Kenya Languages: Difference between revisions

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==Description==
==Description==
Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. There are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya.<br>
Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. There are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya.<br>
Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling, and government. There are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Languages, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref> <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref>
Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling, and government. There are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Languages, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref> <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref><br><br>
Official Languages are:<br>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English British English]''' - primarily used in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "British English," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English, accessed 4 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English British English]''' - primarily used in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "British English," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English, accessed 4 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language Swahili]''' <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Swahili language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language Swahili]''' <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Swahili language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref>


Largest Communities of Native Speakers in Kenya based on 2019 Census:
Largest Communities of Native Speakers in Kenya based on 2019 Census: <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 4 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages Bantu languages]'''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages Bantu languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_language Kikuyu]''' - 8.1 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_language Kikuyu]''' - 8.1 million
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* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic_languages Nilotic languages]'''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic_languages Nilotic languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dholuo Dholuo]''' - 5.0 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dholuo Dholuo]''' - 5.0 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalenjin_languages Kalenjin]''' - 1.9 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalenjin_languages Kalenjin]''' - 4.6 million
 
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_language Maasai]''' - 1.2 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkana_language Turkana]''' - 1.0 million
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushitic_languages Cushitic languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language Somali]''' - 2.8 million


==Word List(s)==
==Word List(s)==
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* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Phrase%20list Swahili Phrase list] - WikiTravel
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Phrase%20list Swahili Phrase list] - WikiTravel
* Martin Benjamin & Elin Berglund, '''''Swahili phrasebook & dictionary''''', Footscray, Victoria : Lonely Planet, 2014 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/swahili-phrasebook-dictionary/oclc/879400470&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Martin Benjamin & Elin Berglund, '''''Swahili phrasebook & dictionary''''', Footscray, Victoria : Lonely Planet, 2014 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/swahili-phrasebook-dictionary/oclc/879400470&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/somali.php Useful phrases in Somali] - Omniglot


==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Alphabet'''
'''Alphabet'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language#:~:text=Phonology Swahili Alphabet] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language#:~:text=Phonology Swahili Alphabet] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/kikuyu.htm#:~:text=Kikuyu%20alphabet Kikuyu alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/dholuo.php#:~:text=Latin%20alphabet%20for%20Dholuo Latin alphabet for Dholuo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/dholuo.php#:~:text=Latin%20alphabet%20for%20Dholuo Latin alphabet for Dholuo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/turkana.htm#:~:text=Turkana%20alphabet Turkana alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=Swahili%20alphabet Swahili Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=Swahili%20alphabet Swahili Alphabet] - Omniglot


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* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Swahili Pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Swahili Pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Pronunciation%20guide Swahili Pronunciation guide] - WikiTravel
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Pronunciation%20guide Swahili Pronunciation guide] - WikiTravel
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/maasai.htm#:~:text=Maasai%20pronunciation Maasai pronunciation] - Omniglot


==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
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* D V Perrott, '''''Swahili Dictionary''''', Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1965 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/swahili-dictionary/oclc/1074425477&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* D V Perrott, '''''Swahili Dictionary''''', Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1965 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/swahili-dictionary/oclc/1074425477&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Willy A Kirkeby, '''''English Swahili dictionary''''', Dar es Salaam : Kirkeby Publ., 2002 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/english-swahili-dictionary/oclc/179940490&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Willy A Kirkeby, '''''English Swahili dictionary''''', Dar es Salaam : Kirkeby Publ., 2002 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/english-swahili-dictionary/oclc/179940490&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* A Ruffell Barlow & T G Benson, '''''English-Kikuyu dictionary''''', Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1975 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/english-kikuyu-dictionary/oclc/2383341&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Cali Xaaji Axmed, Nicholas Awde & Martin Orwin, '''''Somali-English, English-Somali dictionary and phrasebook''''', New York : Hippocrene Books, 2012 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/somali-english-english-somali-dictionary-and-phrasebook/oclc/825000209&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]


'''Online Dictionaries'''
'''Online Dictionaries'''
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* [https://en.bab.la/dictionary/swahili-english/ Swahili-English] - Bab.la
* [https://en.bab.la/dictionary/swahili-english/ Swahili-English] - Bab.la
* [https://glosbe.com/en/sw Dictionary English - Swahili] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/sw Dictionary English - Swahili] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/ki Dictionary English - Kikuyu] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/kam Dictionary English - Kamba] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/kln Dictionary English - Kalenjin] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/mas Dictionary English - Masai] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/tuv Dictionary English - Turkana] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/so Dictionary English - Somali] - Glosbe


'''Language Aids'''
'''Language Aids'''
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== References  ==
== References  ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
===Swahili Language Resources===
*[https://magicalkenya.com/visit-kenya/learn-swahili/ Swahili is Kenya’s national language.]
*[http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kenya-language.html Languages spoken in Kenya]
*[http://www.lexilogos.com/english/swahili_dictionary.htm Swahili language resources]
*[http://aboutworldlanguages.com/swahili Swahili language overview]
*[http://learn101.org/swahili.php Swahili basics and grammar]
===Somali Language Resources===
Parts of Kenya speak Somali. Below are language resources for the Somali language.
*[http://aboutworldlanguages.com/somali Somali language overview]
*[http://learn101.org/somali_grammar.php  Somali basics and grammar]
*[http://polymath.org/somali_grammar_list.php Somali grammar]
*[https://glosbe.com/so/en Somali online dictionary]
*[http://countrystudies.us/somalia/51.htm Country Studies - Somalia Language]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language Wikipedia - Somali Language]
*[http://www.lexilogos.com/english/somali_dictionary.htm  Somali language resources]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language Somali language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
*[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Afro-Asiatic-languages Afro-Asiatic languages | Britannica.com]


[[Category:Kenya]]
[[Category:Kenya]]

Revision as of 15:53, 4 February 2022

Kenya Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Kenya Background
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Description[edit | edit source]

Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. There are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya.
Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling, and government. There are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya. [1] [2]

Official Languages are:

Largest Communities of Native Speakers in Kenya based on 2019 Census: [5]

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Dictionaries

  • D V Perrott, Swahili Dictionary, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1965 - Available at WorldCat
  • Willy A Kirkeby, English Swahili dictionary, Dar es Salaam : Kirkeby Publ., 2002 - Available at WorldCat
  • A Ruffell Barlow & T G Benson, English-Kikuyu dictionary, Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1975 - Available at WorldCat
  • Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Cali Xaaji Axmed, Nicholas Awde & Martin Orwin, Somali-English, English-Somali dictionary and phrasebook, New York : Hippocrene Books, 2012 - Available at WorldCat

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

  • Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language, Norderstedt Hansebooks GmbH 2017 - Available at WorldCat

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Languages, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "British English," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English, accessed 4 Feb 2022.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Swahili language," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 4 Feb 2022.
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