Languages of Mozambique

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mozambique is a multilingual country. A number of Bantu languages are indigenous to Mozambique. Portuguese, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language. Ethnologue lists 43 languages spoken in the country

Portuguese is the most widely spoken language in Mozambique.[citation needed] Other widely spoken languages include Swahili, Makhuwa, Sena, Ndau, and Shangaan (Tsonga). Other indigenous languages of Mozambique include Lomwe, Makonde, Chopi, Chuwabu, Ronga, Zulu, and Tswa.

Small communities of Arabs, Chinese, and Indians speak their own languages (Indians from Portuguese India speak any of the Portuguese Creoles of their origin) aside from Portuguese as their second language. Most educated Mozambicans speak English, which is used in schools and business as second or third language.

Contents 1 Sociolinguistics 1.1 Multilingualism 1.2 Linguistic geography 1.3 Influence among languages 2 External links

[edit] Sociolinguistics

[edit] Multilingualism

Most Mozambicans speak more than one language.[citation needed] About 40% of all people speak Portuguese — 31%, mostly Bantus, as a second language and 9%, mostly pure-blooded Portuguese and mestiços, speak it as their first language. [citation needed]

[edit] Linguistic geography

[edit] Influence among languages

Many indigenous languages of Mozambique have Portuguese-origin loan words.

[edit] External links

• Ethnologue Listing of Mozambican Languages
• Tindzimi ta Mozambique (Language and Language Policy in Mozambique)
• PanAfrican L10n page on Mozambique