Venda

Print

A language of South Africa

ISO 639-3
ven
Alternate Names
Chivenda
Population

980,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,064,000.

Location

Limpopo Province. Also in Zimbabwe.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Venda (S.21)
Dialects

Guvhu, Ilafuri, Lembetu, Manda, Mbedzi, Phani, Tavha-Tsindi.

Language Use

The Lembaa are a Venda-speaking Jewish people claiming Falasha descent.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Fairly low. Radio programs. Bible: 1936.
Writing
Braille script. Latin script, primary usage.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Jewish (Lembaa).

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All