Nambya
[aka Chinambya, Nanzva, Nambzya]Classification: Niger-Congo
·threatened
Classification: Niger-Congo
·threatened
Chinambya, Nanzva, Nambzya, Najwa, Senajwa, Senambya |
||
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Benue-Congo, Southern Bantoid |
||
ISO 639-3 |
||
nmq |
||
As csv |
||
Information from: “A sociolinguistic survey of the languages of Botswana” (1-142) . Hasselbring, Sue (2000) Basarwa Languages Project, Collaborative Basarwa Research Programme of the Univ. of Botswana & Univ. of Tromsø
1,400 - 1,900 in Boteti Subdistrict, Botswana (calculated from 1991 census)
"Over half of Nambya, Yeyi, and Other Khoesan respondents said they speak their own language best."
"… [A] greater percent of older respondents said they spoke their own languages best than did the younger generation. This was particularly true of the !Goro, Yeyi and Nambya. This indicates that these languages may be undergoing a rapid shift… to Tswana or other languages."
"Among the youth and children however, //Gana, Kalanga and especially Nambya… are showing some signs of losing vitality."
Tswana
Kalanga
English
Kgalagari
Mbukushu
Ndebele
Kuhane
Yeyi
"Multilingualism is common in the Boteti region. Of those interviewed… less than one tenth said they spoke only one language."
Tutume, Boteti, Northwest, Botswana; Namibia; Zimbabwe
"Nambya is also spoken in Gweta of the Tutume Subdistrict and in a few villages of the Northwest District [of Botswana]."
Information from: “Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)” . M. Paul Lewis · SIL International
90,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Population total all countries: 105,000.
Since Nambya is rarely written and not taught in school, educated young people will often choose Ndebele [nde] as their mode of communication, unless speaking to other Nambya.
Ndebele
Dombe
Tonga
Shona
English
Also use Ndebele, Dombe [dov], Tonga [toi], Shona [sna], or English.
Matabeleland North, primarily Hwange District; Lupane and Binga districts; Bulawayo. Also in Botswana.
Information from: “Survey of the minority languages of Zimbabwe” (xxii, 126) . Hachipola, Simooya Jerome (1998) Univ. of Zimbabwe Publ.
Tonga
Ndebele
Lozi
"Although it was decreed that Nambya should be the language to be used as the medium of instruction in Hwange district, this decree met with immense difficulties regarding its implementation."
"...[T]he language has very few published materials in it, whether it be literature- or language-related."
"Although provision was made [in Zimbabwe] to broadcast Nambya on radio alongside the other official minority languages, this provision has not been utilised yet."
"...Nambya is supposed to be an official minority language [in Zimbabwe]."
Hwange district, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. Villages of Nemananga, Chikandakubi, Mbizha, Jambezi, Nekabandama, Nekatambe, Makwandala, Silewu, Lupote, Mabale.
Information from: “Some Segmental Phonological Processes Involving Vowels in Nambya: A Preliminary Descriptive Account” (239-252) . Kadenge, Maxwell (2010)
Kalanga
"Although the Zimbabwe Education 1987 Act (as amended in 199) in Section 55 of X1 has provisions for the teaching of minority languages in areas where they exist, very little is actually being done. Furthermore, in Zimbabwe, there is very limited electronic broadcasting and print media which is being done in Nambya."
Matabeleland North, Hwange District