Botswana Languages: Difference between revisions
m (Text replacement - "\}\}__TOC__\n(={2,6}.*?={2,6})" to "}} $1") |
(Changed "Rating" to "Content".) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|Topic Type=Background | |Topic Type=Background | ||
|Background=Languages | |Background=Languages | ||
| | |Content=Standardized | ||
}}{{breadcrumb | }}{{breadcrumb | ||
| link1=[[Botswana Genealogy|Botswana]] | | link1=[[Botswana Genealogy|Botswana]] | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
*'''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. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Tswana language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language, accessed 5 April 2021.</ref> | *'''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> | ||
{{Block indent|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: }} | |||
{{Block indent|Bo, which refers to the country |2}} | |||
{{Block indent|Ba, which refers to the people, |2}} | |||
{{Block indent|Mo, which is one person, and |2}} | |||
{{Block indent|Se which is the language. |2}} | |||
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> | ||
Latest revision as of 05:50, 19 August 2025
| Botswana Wiki Topics |
|
| Botswana Beginning Research |
| Record Types |
| Botswana Background |
|
|
|
|
| Local Research Resources |
Description[edit | edit source]
The official languages of Botswana are English and Tswana.
- 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. [1]
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.
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: [2]
| Afrikaans | Haillom | Kua | Setswana |
| Ani | Herero | Kuhane | Shua |
| Birwa | Hua | Kung-Ekoka | Tshuwau |
| Chichewa | Ju'hoan | Lozi | Tswapong |
| English | Kalanga | Mbukushu | !Xóõ |
| Gana | Kgalagadi | Nambya | Yeyi |
| Gciriku | Khoekhoe | Naro | Zezuru |
| Gwi | Khwedam | Ndebele | isiXhosa |
Word List(s)[edit | edit source]
Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
- Tswana Language Vowels at Wikipedia
- Tswana Language Consonants at Wikipedia
- Tswana Language Stress at Wikipedia
- Tswana Language Tone at Wikipedia
Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]
- Nouns at Wikipedia
- Dictionary Tswana - English at Glosbe
- Dictionary between Setswana (Tswana) and English Translation Online at ATS
- An Introduction to the Setswana Language at Peace Corps
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
- Bogwasi, Beauty. Conversational Setswana : an African laguage from Botswana. Maun, Botswana: Beauty Bogwasi, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.
- University of Botswana. The sound system of Setswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Lightbooks, 2001. Available at: WorldCat.
- Wookey, Alfred John. Setswana-English phrasebook = Puisanyo ya sekgowa le Setswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Pula Press, 2000. Available at: WorldCat.
- Wookey, Alfred John. Puisanyo ya sekgowa le Setswana : with a short introduction to grammar and a vocabulary. Gaberones: Botswana Book Centre, 1963. Available at: WorldCat.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tswana language," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language, accessed 5 April 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Botswana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Botswana, accessed 5 April 2021.