Ethnologue 14 report for language code:NYJ

NYANJA: a language of Malawi

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: NYJ

ISO 639-1: ny

ISO 639-2: nya

Population

3,958,000 in Malawi (1993 Johnstone). Population total all countries 5,622,000 (1998). Including second language speakers: 6,000,000 (1999 WA).

Region

West central and southwestern. Also spoken in Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Alternate names

CHINYANJA, CHEWA

Dialects

CHEWA (CHICHEWA, CHEVA, SHEVA), NGONI, MANGANJA (WAGANGA, CIMANGANJA), NYASA, PETA (CIPETA, MARAVI, MARAVE, MALAWI).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Nyanja (N.30).

Comments

Most Ngoni in Malawi speak Chewa or Tumbuka. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. SVO. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1905, in press (1997).

Also spoken in:

Mozambique

Language name	NYANJA
Population	423,000 in Mozambique (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	CHINYANJA
Dialects	CHEWA (CEWA, CHICHEWA, CICEWA), NGONI (CINGONI), NSENGA (CINSENGA), NYANJA (CINYANJA).
Comments	Eastern dialect in Mozambique. Dictionary. Grammar. SVO. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1905, in press (1997). See main entry under Malawi.

Tanzania

Language name	NYANJA
Population	A few in Tanzania.
Alternate names	CINYANJA, CHEWA
Dialects	CHICHEWA (CHEWA, CEWA), PETA (CIPETA, CHIPETA, MALAWI, MARAVI, MARAVE), CHINGONI (NGONI), MANGANJA (WAGANGA), NYASA, CHIKUNDA.
Comments	Kuulwe (3,000 or fewer; Willis 1966.65-66) may be the same as Peta. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Kuulwe Peta. Bible 1905, in press (1997). See main entry under Malawi.

Zambia

Language name	NYANJA
Population	989,000 in Zambia (1993 Johnstone), 11.7% of the population (1986), including 196,640 Chewa, 256,588 Ngoni, 8,032 ChiKunda (1969 census).
Alternate names	CHINYANJA
Dialects	CHICHEWA (CHEWA, CEWA), PETA (CIPETA, CHIPETA, MALAWI, MARAVI, MARAVE), CHINGONI (NGONI), MANGANJA (WAGANGA), NYASA, CHIKUNDA.
Comments	Western dialect in Zambia. Chewa, Ngoni, and Kunda are completely intelligible with each other's speakers. It is recognized for educational and administrative purposes. The Kunda dialect is distinct from Kunda of Mozambique in the Senga-Sena group. Official language. Newspapers, radio programs. Bible 1905, in press (1997). See main entry under Malawi.

Zimbabwe

Language name	NYANJA
Population	251,800 in Zimbabwe (1969 census).
Alternate names	CHINYANJA
Comments	Bible 1905, in press (1997). See main entry under Malawi.