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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > South Africa > Fanagalo

Fanagalo

A language of South Africa

ISO 639-3: fng

Population  Several hundred thousand in South Africa (1975 Reinecke). Population total all countries: 5,100.
Region  Also in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Alternate names   Basic Zulu, “Fanakalo” , “Fanekolo” , “Isikula” , Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Pidgin Bantu, Piki, Silunguboi
Dialects  The dialect in Zambia is called ‘Cikabanga’, that in Zimbabwe is called ‘Chilapalapa’. Influenced by Shona [sna] in Zimbabwe. About 70% of the vocabulary in Zimbabwe comes from Zulu [zul], 24% from English, 6% from Afrikaans [afr]. Influenced by Bemba [bem] in Zambia. Lexical similarity: 70% with Zulu [zul], 24% with English, 6% with Afrikaans [afr].
Classification  Pidgin, Zulu based
Language use  Trade language. Used widely in towns and gold, diamond, coal, and copper mining areas.
Language development  Dictionary.
Comments  Originated in the 19th century. ‘Fanagalo’ and most or all other names are pejorative. Second language only.

Also spoken in:

Zambia

Language name   Fanagalo
Population  5,100 in Zambia (2006).
Region  Towns and mining areas.
Alternate names  Basic Zulu, “Fanakalo” , “Fanekolo” , “Isikula” , Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Pidgin Bantu, Piki
Dialects  Cikabanga.
Language use  Trade language. Rejected by most Africans because it was imported from Zimbabwe and South Africa by Europeans who did not want Africans to learn English (Adler 1977).
Comments  Second language only.
 

Zimbabwe

Language name   Fanagalo
Population  Several hundred thousand in Zimbabwe (1975 J. Reinecke).
Alternate names  “Fanakalo” , “Fanekolo” , “Isikula” , Isilololo, Isipiki, Lololo, Pidgin Bantu, Piki
Dialects  Chilapalapa.
Language use  Trade language. Used widely in towns and mining areas.
Comments  Second language only.