Ethnologue 14 report for language code:TSO

TSONGA: a language of South Africa

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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: TSO

ISO 639-1: ts

ISO 639-2: tso

Population

1,646,000 in South Africa (1995), 4.2% of the population (1995 The Economist). Population total all countries 3,165,000.

Region

Transvaal. Also spoken in Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe.

Alternate names

SHITSONGA, THONGA, TONGA, SHANGANA, SHANGAAN

Dialects

LULEKE (XILULEKE), GWAMBA (GWAPA), CHANGANA, HLAVE, KANDE, N'WALUNGU (SHINGWALUNGU), XONGA, JONGA (DZONGA), NKUMA, SONGA, NHLANGANU (SHIHLANGANU).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50).

Comments

Partially intelligible with Ronga and Tswa. National language. A language of secondary education. Newspapers, radio programs. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1907-1989.

Also spoken in:

Mozambique

Language name	TSONGA
Population	1,500,000 in Mozambique (1989 UBS).
Alternate names	SHITSONGA, XITSONGA, THONGA, TONGA, GWAMBA
Dialects	BILA (VILA), CHANGANA (XICHANGANA, CHANGA, SHANGAAN, HLANGANU, HANGANU, LANGANU, SHILANGANU, SHANGANA), JONGA (DJONGA, DZONGA), NGWALUNGU (SHINGWALUNGU).
Comments	'Tsonga' is used to describe XiChangana, XiTswa, and XiRonga, although it is often used interchangeably with Changana, the most prestigious of the three. All are recognized as languages, although they are inherently intelligible. Dictionary. Grammar. Christian, traditional religion, Muslim. Bible 1907-1989. See main entry under South Africa.

Swaziland

Language name	TSONGA
Population	19,000 in Swaziland (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	SHITSONGA, XITSONGA, CHANGANA, XICHANGANA
Comments	Bible 1907, in press (1989). See main entry under South Africa.

Zimbabwe

Language name	TSONGA
Alternate names	SHITSONGA, XITSONGA, THONGA, TONGA, GWAMBA
Dialects	BILA (VILA), CHANGANA (CHANGA, XICHANGANA, SHANGAAN, HLANGANU, HANGANU, LANGANU, SHILANGANU, SHANGANA), JONGA (DJONGA, DZONGA), NGWALUNGU (SHINGWALUNGU).
Comments	'Tsonga' is used to describe XiChangana, XiTswa, and XiRonga, although it is often used interchangeably with Changana, the most prestigious of the three. All are recognized as languages, although they are inherently intelligible. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible 1907-1989. See main entry under South Africa.