Zanaki

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A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
zak
Alternate Names
Ekizanaki, Ikizanaki, Kizanaki
Population

100,000 (2005 SIL).

Location

Mara Region, Musoma Rural district, Makongoro division.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kuria (E.44)
Dialects

Lexical similarity: 87% with Ikizu [ikz], 74% with Ikoma [ntk], 76% with Ngoreme [ngq], 66% with Kuria [kuj], 50% with Gusii [guz].

Typology

5 vowel system

Language Use

Children learn Zanaki first. Home, field-work, local gatherings. All ages. Positive attitudes. Children also learn Swahili [swh] early where a mix of language groups is found in the villages.

Language Development
Bible portions: 1948–2012.
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.