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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Zambia > Tonga

Tonga

A language of Zambia

ISO 639-3: toi

Population  990,000 in Zambia (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001), increasing. 427,031 Tonga, 11,994 Toka, 7,874 Leya. Population total all countries: 1,127,000.
Region  Southern and Western provinces. With Ila [ilb] it predominates south. Also in Zimbabwe.
Language map  Zambia, reference number 32
Alternate names   Chitonga, Plateau Tonga, Zambezi
Dialects  Chitonga, Leya, Toka (Southern Tonga), We (Valley Tonga), Shanjo (Sanjo), Twa of Kafwe, Mala. Related to Ila [ilb].
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Lenje-Tonga (M.60), Tonga
Language use  Recognized for educational and administrative purposes. Home, community, market, administration. All ages. Positive attitude.
Language development  Taught in primary and secondary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1963.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Different from Tonga [tso] of Malawi, Gitonga of Mozambique, or Tsonga (Tonga) of Mozambique.

Also spoken in:

Zimbabwe

Language name   Tonga
Population  137,000 in Zimbabwe (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Language map  Zimbabwe
Alternate names  Chitonga, Zambezi
Dialects  Chitonga, Leya, Toka, We.
Comments  Different from Chitonga [tog] of Malawi or Tonga [toh] of Mozambique.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

KRÖGER, Heidrun, author. 2003. "O tom nas línguas Bantu."