Swahili language, also called kiSwahili, or Kiswahili, Bantu language spoken either as a mother tongue or as a fluent second language on the east coast of Africa in an area extending from Lamu Island, Kenya, in the north to the southern border of Tanzania in the south.
Is Swahili an official language?
It's a national language in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and an official language of the East African Community which comprises Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Its use is spreading to southern, western and northern Africa.Oct 4, 2018
Is Swahili a language and culture?
Swahili Language and Culture: Swahili Language and Culture Like other cultures, Swahili culture is expressed through language. Swahili language is grouped under the Niger-Congo family while the culture has a Bantu core with loan words from Arabic, German, Urdu, Hindu, English to name a few.
When did Swahili become a language?
When the Kenyan government adopted Swahili as its official language in 1970, it lauded the language for being more African than was English, the previous choice for the government and people's affairs.
How many African countries speak Swahili?
With its origin in East Africa, Swahili speakers spread over more than 14 countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Comoros, and as far as Oman and Yemen in the Middle East.Dec 9, 2021
Does most of Africa speak Swahili?
SWAHILI. The most spoken language in Africa is Swahili which is said to have between 100 and 150 million speakers. Swahili is the main medium of instruction in schools and it's not considered a difficult language to learn, especially if you already know some Arabic.
How common is Swahili in Africa?
Swahili speakers may number 120 to 150 million in total. Swahili is among the first languages in Africa for which language technology applications have been developed.
Does everyone in Africa speak Swahili?
Swahili
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Linguasphere
Is Swahili an international language?
Although the status of Kiswahili as an international language remains average, it continues to grow. Kiswahili is the most developed African language and a lingua franca of the Eastern and Central Africa.
Where is Swahili not spoken?
Somalia
Is Swahili spoken in Europe?
Welcome! Swahili or Kiswahili is spoken widely in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It is also spoken by smaller numbers in Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Northern Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia and the Comoros Islands. Swahili is spoken beyond African borders.
What language is Swahili a combination of?
Someone who speaks Arabic may find it easier to learn Swahili because Swahili is a combination of words from Arabic and the Bantu-speaking communities of East Africa.
What language family does Swahili belong to?
Swahili
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Language family
Early form
Writing system
Official status