Ndau

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A language of Mozambique

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

500,000 in Mozambique (2014 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 1,300,000.

Location

Sofala and Manica provinces: south of Beira; Inhambane and Gaza provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

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

Ndau (Cindau), Shanga (Changa, Chichanga, Chisenji, Chixanga, Cimashanga, Mashanga, Senji, Xanga), Danda (Cidanda, Cindanda, Ndanda, Vadanda, Watande), Dondo (Chibabava, Cidondo, Wadondo), Gova (Cigova). 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 Use

Used as L2 by Sena [seh].

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

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

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

Also spoken in:

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