• Source: Languages of Botswana

The official language of Botswana is English, while Setswana is considered to be a national language. English, which was inherited from colonial rule, is the language of official business and most written communication. Most of the population speak Setswana, but over 20 smaller languages are also spoken. Some of the country's languages are in danger of becoming extinct.




Official and national languages


The official written language of Botswana is English. Most written communication and official business texts are written in English. The language of the Tswana people—Setswana—is the country's national language, and is spoken by most of the population.




Other languages


Aside from English and Setswana, other languages are spoken in the country. Over 90% of the population speak a Bantu language as their first language. According to the CIA's World Factbook, the most common Bantu languages spoken are Setswana (73.3% of the population), Kalanga (17.2%), Kgalagadi (2.4%), Shona (1%) Mbukushu (1.6%) and Ndebele (1%). 1.7% speak Tshwa (a Khoe language) and 0.1% speak !Xóõ, a Tuu language (both non-Bantu). English is spoken by 2.8% as their first language, and a small number speak Afrikaans.
The number of individual languages listed for Botswana is 31. All are living languages. Of these, 26 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 9 are developing, 8 are vigorous, 9 are in trouble, and 1 is dying.




= Languages spoken

=

Afrikaans
Ani
Birwa
Chichewa
English
Gana
Gciriku
Gwi
Hai||om
Herero
‡Hua
Ju|’hoansi
Kalanga
Kgalagadi
Khoekhoe
Khwedam
Kua
Kuhane
Kung-Ekoka
Lozi
Mbukushu
Nambya
Naro
Ndebele
Setswana
Shua
Tshuwau
Tswapong
!Xóõ
Yeyi
Zezuru
isiXhosa




References






Sources


Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2009). Botswana Since Independence. Pretoria: New Africa Press. ISBN 9-780-98025-878-3.




Further reading


Chebanne, Andy Monthusi (2008). "A Sociolinguistic Perspective of the Indigenous Communities of Botswana". African Study Monographs. 29 (3). Kyoto University: The Center for African Area Studies: 93–118. doi:10.14989/66231.
Chabanne, Andy Monthusi (2012). "Where Are the 'Skeletons' of Dead Khoisan Languages?". Botswana Notes and Records. 44. Botswana Society: 81–92. JSTOR 43855562. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
Ramsay, Jeff; Morton, Barry; Morton, Fred (1996). Historical dictionary of Botswana. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810831430.
Vossen, Rainer, ed. (2013). The Khoesan Languages. Psychology Press. ISBN 9-780-70071-289-2.




See also


Khoisan languages




External links


Ethnologue listing of Botswana languages (subscription required)
A list of endangered languages in Botswana from the Endangered Languages Project (ELP)
The Kalahari Basin area: a 'Sprachbund' on the verge of extinction, from the Kalahari Basin area project (KBA)

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Bahasa ǂKxʼaoǁʼae
• Suku Shona
• Voice of America
• Bahasa Tswana
• Daftar negara yang menuturkan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa resmi
• Indonesia
• Bahasa Swahili
• Zambia
• Jalur Caprivi
• Bahasa Nama
• Languages of Botswana
• Botswana
• Tswana language
• ǃKung languages
• Shua language
• Khoe languages
• Naro language
• Khoisan languages
• Kalanga language
• Tuu languages