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The official languages of Botswana are '''English''' and '''Tswana'''. | The official languages of Botswana are '''English''' and '''Tswana'''. | ||
*'''English''' - Inherited from colonial rule and is used for official business and most written communication. | *'''English''' - Inherited from colonial rule and is used for official business and most written communication. | ||
*'''Tswana''' - The language of the Tswana people—'''Setswana'''—is a country's national language, and is spoken by most of the population. | *'''Tswana''' - The language of the Tswana people—'''Setswana'''—is a country's national language, and is spoken by most of the population. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Tswana language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language, accessed 5 April 2021.</ref> | ||
:In '''Setswana''', prefixes are more important than they are in many other languages, since Setswana is a Bantu language and has noun classes denoted by these prefixes. They include: | :In '''Setswana''', prefixes are more important than they are in many other languages, since Setswana is a Bantu language and has noun classes denoted by these prefixes. They include: | ||
::Bo, which refers to the country | ::Bo, which refers to the country | ||
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::Se which is the language. | ::Se which is the language. | ||
For example, the main ethnic group of Botswana is the Tswana people, hence the name Botswana for its country. The people as a whole are Batswana, one person is a Motswana, and the language they speak is Setswana.<br><br> | For example, the main ethnic group of Botswana is the Tswana people, hence the name Botswana for its country. The people as a whole are Batswana, one person is a Motswana, and the language they speak is Setswana.<br><br> | ||
Over 20 smaller languages are also spoken. Some of the country's languages are in danger of becoming extinct. Here is a list of the languages in Botswana:<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Botswana," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Botswana, accessed 5 April 2021.</ref> | Over 20 smaller languages are also spoken. Some of the country's languages are in danger of becoming extinct. Here is a list of the languages in Botswana: <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Botswana," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Botswana, accessed 5 April 2021.</ref> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||