Kwanyama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kwanyama |
|
|---|---|
| Oshikwanyama | |
| Native to | Namibia and Angola |
| Region | Ovamboland |
| Native speakers | 420,000 in Angola in 1993, 250,000 in Namibia in 2006 (date missing) |
| Language family |
Niger–Congo
|
| Linguasphere | 05-PEA-aa |
Kwanyama or Oshikwanyama is a language spoken in Angola and Namibia. It is considered a national language in both countries. Kwanyama is also a dialect of the larger Ovambo language group.
Contents
What is Kwanyama?
Kwanyama is a language that belongs to the Bantu family. This means it's part of a very large group of languages spoken across much of Africa. Think of it like different types of apples that all come from the same apple tree family.
Where is Kwanyama Spoken?
Kwanyama is mainly spoken in a region called Ovamboland. This area stretches across the border between northern Namibia and southern Angola. It's a very important language for the people living there.
How Many People Speak Kwanyama?
Many people speak Kwanyama! In 1993, about 420,000 people spoke it in Angola. Later, in 2006, around 250,000 people spoke it in Namibia. This shows that hundreds of thousands of people use Kwanyama every day to communicate.
Kwanyama's Language Family Tree
Languages can be grouped into families, just like human families. Kwanyama is part of the Niger-Congo language family. This is one of the biggest language families in the world!
From Niger-Congo to Ovambo
Within the Niger-Congo family, Kwanyama belongs to the Atlantic–Congo branch. Then it goes down to Benue-Congo, then Bantoid, and finally to the Bantu group. More specifically, it's part of the Ovambo group, which includes several closely related dialects. Kwanyama is one of the main dialects within this group.
