Kalanga
Language · official in 1 country
TjiKalanga, as Kalanga is called in Zimbabwe, belongs to the western branch of the Shona group of Bantu languages, coded S.16 in Guthrie's classification. Its sounds include palatalised, velarised, aspirated and breathy-voiced consonants as well as whistled sibilants. The Botswana and Zimbabwe varieties differ a little and use slightly different spellings.
The language on record
- Own name
- TjiKalanga
- ISO 639-3
- KCK
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Shonic Bantu
- Official in
- 1 country
Where Kalanga is official
Zimbabwe alone, whose 2013 constitution made Kalanga official. Northeastern Botswana has a large Kalanga-speaking population and gives the language no official status.
Official beside Kalanga
About Kalanga
Which dialects make up Kalanga
Several dialects share the name. TjiLilima carries much of the everyday speech and written material produced in Botswana; its speakers come from the southern Tutume district, the Tonota district and the North East district and call themselves BaLilima or BaWhumbe. TjiGwizi, also called TjiDeti, takes its name from gwizi, rivers, because its speakers chose to settle beside them. TjiTalaunda is spoken around Serowe and Mahalapye in Botswana and in the Matobo and Gwanda districts of Zimbabwe. TjiNanzwa, named after the Kalanga word for north, is heard around Hwange and is feared close to extinction.
Tjindondondo, or TjiKalanga proper, is considered the older form and is understood by speakers of all the others. It is used in the Bulilimamangwe districts and around Tsholotsho. Nyai, Lemba, Lembethu, Twamamba, Pfumbi and Jaunda have fallen or are falling out of use, and Romwe and Peri are extinct. In Gwanda, local people and the government are working to bring Jawunda back.
Where Kalanga is taught in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean Constitution of 2013 recognises Kalanga as an official language, and schools teach it in areas where its speakers predominate. Tjindondondo is the dialect revived in those schools. Kalanga is closely related to Nambya, TshiVenda and KheLobedu, and it has borrowed the sounds tʼ, tʷ, x and xʷ from Tswana.
Common questions
Questions about Kalanga
Which languages are closest to Kalanga?
Nambya, TshiVenda and KheLobedu, spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Linguists group Kalanga and Nambya as the western branch of the Shona languages.
Does Botswana recognise Kalanga officially?
No. Kalanga is spoken mainly in the northeast of Botswana, but the language has no official status there.
Which Kalanga dialect do Zimbabwean schools use?
Tjindondondo, or TjiKalanga proper. Speakers of every other Kalanga dialect can understand it, and it is considered the more original form.