Ndau

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A language of Mozambique

ISO 639-3
ndc
Alternate Names
Chindau, Ndzawu, Njao, Sofala, Southeast Shona
Population

1,580,000 in Mozambique (2006). Population total all countries: 2,380,000.

Location

South central, Sofala and Manica provinces, south of Beira. Also in Zimbabwe.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Shona (S.15)
Dialects

Danda (Cidanda, Cindanda, Ndanda, Vadanda, Watande), Dondo (Chibabava, Cidondo, Wadondo), Gova (Cigova), Ndau (Cindau), Shanga (Changa, Chichanga, Chisenji, Chixanga, Cimashanga, Mashanga, Senji, Xanga). Similar to Manyika [mxc]; much more divergent from Union Shona [sna]. Danda and Ndanda may be the same language. Ndau (Gova) [sna] in Mozambique is more similar to Ndau, but in Zambia and Zimbabwe, Ndau is more similar to the Korekore dialect of Shona. Lexical similarity: 92% between Danda and Dondo dialects, 85% between Dondo and Shanga dialects; 74%–81% between Ndau dialects and Manyika [mxc].

Language Development
Bible: 1985–2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ndau
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Other geographical or ethnic names: Dzika, Hijo, Buzi (Buji), Tomboji, and Mukwilo. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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