Chichewa

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A language of Malawi

ISO 639-3
nya
Alternate Names
Chewa, Chinyanja, Nyanja, Nyanja-Chewa
Population

7,000,000 in Malawi (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 10,036,700.

Location

West central and southwest.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity.

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Chewa-Nyanja (N.31)
Dialects

Chewa (Cheva, Chichewa, Sheva), Manganja (Cimanganja, Waganga), Ngoni, Nyasa, Peta (Cipeta, Malawi, Marave, Maravi). Manganja is also a Chewa-influenced dialect of Sena [swk].

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Most Ngoni in Malawi speak the Chewa dialect or Tumbuka [tum]. Used as L2 by Kokola [kzn], Malawi Lomwe [lon], Yao [yao].

Language Development
T. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1905–1998.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chichewa
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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