Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Malawi > Yao
Yao
A language of Malawi
ISO 639-3: yao
| Population |
1,000,000 in Malawi (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 1,916,000. |
| Region |
Southeast tip of Lake Malawi area, bordering Mozambique. Also in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia. |
| Language map |
Malawi
|
| Alternate names |
Achawa, Adsawa, Adsoa, Ajawa, Ayao, Ayawa, Ayo, Chiyao, Djao, Haiao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao |
| Dialects |
Mangoche. |
| Classification |
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, P, Yao (P.20) |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 60% Nyanja [nya], 30% Arabic [arb]. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1920. |
| Writing system |
Latin script. |
| Comments |
Yao in Tanzania use a different orthography from Malawi. Muslim, Christian, traditional religion. |
Also spoken in:
| Language name |
Yao |
| Population |
496,000 in Mozambique (2006). |
| Region |
Niassa Province, south and west of Lake Malawi. Possibly in Zimbabwe. |
| Language map |
Mozambique, reference number 40
|
| Alternate names |
Achawa, Adsawa, Adsoa, Ajawa, Ayawa, Ayo, Chiyao, Ciyao, Djao, Haiao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao |
| Dialects |
Makale (Cimakale), Massaninga (Cimassaninga), Machinga, Mangochi, Tunduru Yao, Chikonono (Cikonono). |
| Comments |
Muslim, Christian, traditional religion. |
| |
| Language name |
Yao |
| Population |
420,000 in Tanzania (2006). |
| Region |
South central, Mtwara region, Masasi District and Ruvuma region, Tunduru District, east of Lake Malawi, Mozambique border area. Possibly in Zimbabwe. |
| Language map |
Tanzania, reference number 110
|
| Alternate names |
Achawa, Adsawa, Ajawa, Ayawa, Ayo, Chiyao, Djao, Hajao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao |
| Comments |
Swahili-based orthography different from Malawi and Mozambique. Muslim, Christian, traditional religion. |
| |
| Language name |
Yao |
| Population |
200 families or more in the 1970s (F. Banda). |
| Region |
Eastern Province, Chipata District, Kapata Township; Katete District. |
| Alternate names |
Achawa, Adsawa, Adsoa, Ajawa, Ayawa, Ayo, Chichawa, Chiyao, Ciyao, Djao, Haiao, Hiao, Hyao, Jao, Veiao, Wajao |
| Dialects |
Makale (Cimakale), Massaninga (Cimassaninga). |
| Language use |
Positive attitude. Also use Nyanja [nya]. |
| Comments |
Workers for Asian merchants. Muslim. |
| |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
AUSSE, Luís; MARCELO, Matias Efrem; N'SUENENE, Paul Alifa, authors; NELLY, Octávio Gonçalves, illustrator. 2009. Vocabulário de Ciyao.
