Lesotho Languages
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Description
The official languages of the Kingdom of Lesotho are Sesotho and English. [1]
Sotho or Sesotho is spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language. [2]
Lesotho, a country in Southern Africa, is home to several languages, including
- Phuthi
- Sesotho - Official language - Sesotho is the first language of more than 90 percent of the population and is "used widely as a medium of communication" in day-to-day speech. [3]
- Xhosa
- Zulu
- English - Official language - English is reserved for official interactions, such as "government and administration". [4]
All, except for English, belong to the Niger–Congo language family. [5]
Word List(s)
- Phuthi Phrases - Wikipedia
- Useful Sesotho phrases - Omniglot
- Useful phrases in Northern Sotho - Omniglot
- Useful Xhosa phrases - Omniglot
- Useful Zulu phrases - Omniglot
- Motinyane-Masoko, Mantoa and Aquilina Mawadza. Xhosa dictionary & phrasebook. New York: Hippocrene Books, Inc, 2017. Available at: WorldCat.
Alphabet and Pronunciation
Alphabet
- Phuthi Alphabet - Wikipedia
- Sotho Vowels & Consonants - Wikipedia
- Sotho Alphabet - Omniglot
- Xhosa alphabet - Omniglot
- Zulu alphabet - Omniglot
Pronunciation
- Sotho pronunciation - Omniglot
- Xhosa pronunciation - Omniglot
- Zulu pronunciation - Omniglot
Language Aids and Dictionaries
Dictionaries
- Kriel, Theunis Johannes. The new English-Sesotho dictionary. Johannesburg: A.P.B, 1958. Available at: WorldCat.
- Hamel, L. English-Southern Sesotho dictionary. Mazenod, Basutoland (Lesotho): Catholic Centre, 1965. Available at: WorldCat.
- Fischer, A. English-Xhosa dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.
- Dent, G. R and C. L. Sibusiso Nyembezi. Scholar's Zulu dictionary : English-Zulu, Zulu-English. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter and Shooter, 2009. Available at: WorldCat.
Online Dictionaries
- Dictionary English - Southern Sotho - Glosbe
- Dictionary English - Xhosa - Glosbe
- Dictionary English - Zulu - Glosbe
Language Aids
- Phuthi Grammar - Wikipeadia
- Sesotho grammar - Wikipedia
- Xhosa Grammar - Learn101
- Zulu grammar - Wikipedia
- Zulu Grammar - Learn101
Additional Resources
- Doke, Clement M. The phonetics of the Zulu language. Muenchen: LINCOM Europa, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.
- Ambrose, David. Sesotho language. National University of Lesotho, Lesotho: House 9 Publications, 2006. Available at: WorldCat.
- Donnelly, Simon Scurr. Aspects of Tone and Voice in Phuthi. Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. Available at: WorldCat.
References
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, The official languages are Sesotho and English., accessed 23 Feb 2022.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sotho language," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=Sesotho%20is%20the%20first%20language%20of%20more,a%20medium%20of%20communication%22%20in%20day-to-day%20speech, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=English%20is%20reserved%20for%20official%20interactions%2C%5B8%5D%20such%20as%20%22government%20and%20administration%22, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.