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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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

ISO 639-1: zu

ISO 639-2: zul

Population	8,778,000 in South Africa (1995), 22.4% of the population (1995 The Economist). Population total all countries 9,142,000.
Region	Zululand and northern Natal. Also spoken in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland.
Alternate names	ISIZULU, ZUNDA
Dialects	LALA, QWABE.
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40).
Comments	Close to Swazi and Xhosa. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in second language: 70%. Newspapers, radio programs. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1883-1959.

Also spoken in:

Malawi

Language name	ZULU
Population	37,480 in Malawi (1966 census).
Alternate names	NGONI, KINGONI, ISIZULU, ZUNDA
Comments	Ngoni is a dialect of Zulu or Swazi spoken in Malawi. 'Ngoni' also used as an alternate name for Chichewa and possibly for Matengo. Bible 1883-1959. See main entry under South Africa.

Mozambique

Language name	ZULU
Population	1,798 in Mozambique (1980 census).
Alternate names	ISIZULU, ZUNDA
Comments	Bible 1883-1959. See main entry under South Africa.

Swaziland

Language name	ZULU
Population	76,000 in Swaziland, 2.3% of the population (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	ISIZULU, ZUNDA
Comments	Close to Swati and Xhosa. Bible 1883-1959. See main entry under South Africa.