Chichewa

A language of Malawi

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Chewa, Chinyanja, Nyanja, Nyanja-Chewa

Autonym

Chicheŵa

Population

6,500,000 (2009 UNSD). 4,250,000 Chewa, 1,490,000 Ngoni, 754,000 Nyanja (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 9,690,520.

Location

West central and southwest.

Language Maps

Malawi

Mozambique

Zambia

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), Ngoni, Manganja (Cimanganja, Waganga), 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

Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio. 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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Botswana

Language nameChichewa

Alternate Names

Chicheŵa, Chinjanja, Chinyanja, Nyanja

Status

4 (Educational).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mozambique

Language nameNyanja

Population Full

599,000 (2006).

Location

Niassa, Tete, and Zambezia provinces. Macanga district, Tete (Angoni and Chewa dialects); Niassa province: Lago and Sanga (Ngoni dialect); Niassa and Tete, along Lake Niassa (Nyanja dialect).

Alternate Names

Chinyanja, Cinianja

Dialects

Chewa (Cewa, Chichewa, Cicewa), Ngoni (Cingoni), Nyanja (Cinyanja), Angoni, Nyasa (Nyasa-Cewa).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Phimbi [phm], Sena [seh].

Other Comments

Ngoni people in Angonia District of Tete Province in western Mozambique have shifted to Nyanja. Traditional religion, Christian.

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Zambia

Language nameChichewa

Population Full

2,180,000 (2010 census). 500,000 Chewa, 40,000 Kunda 1,640,000 Nyanja (2010 census). Ethnic population: 1,060,000 (2010 census). 930,000 Chewa, 83,500 Kunda, 50,800 Nyanja (2010 census).

Location

Central and Eastern provinces.

Alternate Names

Chewa, Chicheŵa, Chinyanja, Cinyanja, Nyanja

Dialects

Chewa (Cewa), Peta (Chipeta, Cipeta, Malawi, Marave, Maravi), Chingoni (Ngoni), Manganja (Waganga), Nyasa, Kunda.

Status

4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Eastern, Central provinces.

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Used as L2 by Yao [yao].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Kunda dialect is distinct from Kunda [kdn] of Mozambique.

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Zimbabwe

Language nameChichewa

Population Full

405,000 (2012).

Location

Mashonaland Central province; possible communities in Harare and other urban areas.

Alternate Names

Chicheŵa, Chinyanja, Nyanja

Status

6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)).

Language Use

Also use Ndebele [nde] (Hachipola 1998), Shona [sna] (Hachipola 1998).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Chichewa

Primary tabs

A language of Malawi

Also spoken in:

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