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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Namibia > Herero

Herero

A language of Namibia

ISO 639-3: her

Population  206,000 in Namibia (2006). Population total all countries: 237,000.
Region  Damaraland and northwest Ovamboland territory, Kaokoveld. Also in Botswana.
Language map  Namibia, reference number 5
Alternate names   Ochiherero, Otjiherero
Dialects  Mbandieru.
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Herero (R.30)
Language use  National language.
Language development  Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1987.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Erroneously called ‘Damara’. The people are ‘Ovaherero’. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Botswana

Language name   Herero
Population  31,000 in Botswana (2006).
Region  Scattered in groups among ethnic groups: Northwest District, Maun, Gomare, Sehitwa, Makakung, Nokaneng, Shakawe, Nxaunxau, and western cattleposts; Central District, Mahalapye, Toromoja, Rakops, Mokoboxane, Letlhakane; Ghanzi District, Charles Hill, Ghanzi, Makunda, Dryhoek, New Kanagas, Dekar; Kgalagadi District in Tsabong, Omaweneno, Werd; Kgatleng District, Morwa.
Language map  Botswana
Alternate names  Ochiherero, Otjiherero
Language use  All ages.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: Nearly 60%. Literacy rate in L2: Nearly 60% in Tswana [tsn].
Comments  Spoken by the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu peoples. Erroneously called ‘Damara’. Most came as refugees from Namibia in the early 1900s. Christian, traditional religion.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

HASSELBRING, Sue, author. 2000. A sociolinguistic survey of the languages of Botswana.