Lesotho Languages
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Description[edit | edit source]
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)[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 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.