In the Republic, at least thirty-five indigenous South African languages are spoken, eleven of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans, and English, which is the primary language used in parliamentary and state discourse, though all official languages have equal legal status. The South African Constitution protects unofficial languages, while few are stated by name. Despite a campaign and parliamentary request for it to be recognized an official language, South African Sign Language does not have legal recognition.
Some of Southern Africa’s oldest languages are deemed unofficial and marginalized: Khoekhoegowab,!
Xirikobab, Orakobab, N|uuki,!
SiPhuthi, IsiHlubi, SiBhaca, SiLala, SiNhlangwini (IsiZansi), SiNrebele (SiSumayela), IsiMpondo/IsiMpondro, IsiMpondomise/IsiMpromse/Isimpomse, KheLobedu, SePulana, HiPai, SeKutswe Most South Africans can speak more than one language, and for speakers of the latter, there is frequently a diglossia between the official and unofficial language varieties.
Which is the most widely spoken language in South Africa?
IsiZulu is South Africa’s most widely spoken language, spoken by about a quarter (23%) of the population. Other official languages spoken in South Africa include isiXhosa (16%), Afrikaans (13.5%), English (10%), Sesotho sa Leboa (9%), Setswana and Sesotho (both 8%), Xitsonga (4.5%), siSwati and Tshivenda (both 2.5%), and isiNdebele (2%).
In South Africa, what kind of English is spoken?
In South Africa, at least four major variations of English may now be identified: English in Afrikaner (the English of those South Africans whose mother language is Afrikaans), Coloured English (the type of English spoken by the coloured (racially mixed, or Asian) population, often known as black English.
