A detailed list of languages In South Africa. Would it not be nice if you know the names of the language the South African citizens speak and use as an official means of communication, then, that’s what we are going to be discussing today. Knowing the number languages in South Africa is a great idea,  South Africa is a country in the African continent that has just only eleven (11) languages spoken wide across the country which tends to be their set of an official language for communication, 11 (eleven) officially signed and stamped language for the use of their communication in their country.

HOW MANY LANGUAGES IN SOUTH AFRICA

How Many Languages In South Africa
  • ·        Number of Languages Spoken in South Africa

There are a total of eleven (11) languages spoken wide across South Africa and is used as an official language in the Country.

Numbers of languages in South Africa or how many languages are spoken in South Africa are stated below:

  • Zulu: This language is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, taking 22.7% approximately 23% of the total population of the South African Citizens, Zulu also tends to be the largest ethnic group in South Africa; this language tends to be the most widely understood language wide across South Africa.
  • Xhosa: This language and Tribe tends to be the second-largest most widely spoken and understood language across South Africa taking over 16% of the total population of the South African Citizen. This language and Tribe has been in existence since the early 15’s precisely 1500 which was first spoken by the people living on the south-east coast of Africa. Over 16% of South Africans use the Xhosa language as their first language and mother tongue, meanwhile it has several dialects in different regions.
  • Afrikaans: This language and tribe is ranking third on the list with a takeover of 13.5% of the South African Population, this particular language tends to be the youngest language in the world, it is a unique language spoken in South Africa and the third widely understood language in South Africa, Afrikaans speaking communities have been recorded to have spread far and wide to countries like Australia,  Argentina, Canada, Brazil and the United Kingdom (UK), However, these communities spread far and wide the listed countries are descendants and emigrants of Afrikaans, in which they all originated from South Africa. This said language is noted to have developed from several languages in which Dutch is predominant. It was developed from the colony that was then established in Africa, southern coast precisely, by the East Indian Dutch company in the year 1652. This tends to mean that both Dutch-speaking country or people and Afrikaans speaking country or people can understand themselves very well.
  • English: This being a general means of communication at international level and being the official languages of countries like, Nigeria, United States, and so on is also one of the official languages of South Africa, although, it is not spoken or understood by most of the citizens of South Africa, the percentage of people speaking and understanding English in South Africa is 9.6% which indicates a low percentage of people that understands the language and as well speaks it.
  • Northern Sotho: This language is spoken by 9.1% of the South African Citizen’s Population, this indicates that just a few of the population of South Africans understand and speak this language, more also, use it as their first language is a mother tongue language.
  • Tswana: This language tends to rank sixth on the list with a total population percentage of 8% of the total population of the South African Citizens. This language is also just understood by few people across the country, people who use this language as their mother tongue language are few and rare to understand while communicating with other South African Citizens.
  • Sotho: This is another tribe and language spoken in South Africa, with just 7.6% of the total population of the South African citizens, their language tends to be a bit different from the Northern Sotho, the rate at which citizens of South Africa understands Northern Sotho language is far by 1.9%.
  • Tsonga: This is another official language developed In South Africa by 4.5% of the total population of the South African citizens, which makes it a language and tribe understood by just 4.5% percent of people living in South Africa, Although, it is an official language and it is spoken and understood in the country but by few people or citizens.
  • Swazi: Another language ranking the ninth position with a population density of just 2.5%, such a low percentage for a tribe but it is, in fact, a superb language and passed in as an official language but with just a few citizens with an outstanding understanding of the language and it is used as their first language and mother tongue.
  • Venda: Venda tends to occupy just 2.4% of the South Africa Population census, which is just 0.1% lower than the size of the Swazi Tribe and people, this implies that this language is as widely spoken and understood by almost the size of the Swazi people, Tribe or language in South Africa.
  • Ndebele: This tribe also tends to be lower in size than the above-stated tribe which is the Tribe of the Venda with just 0.3% difference in size and population, which makes the language occupy 2.1% of the South African Tribe, therefore, this makes the language an official language in the country named South Africa.

SA sign language: This language is the least spoken language in South Africa with an occupant of just 0.5% percent of South African Citizen.

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Conclusion on How many languages in South Africa or how many languages are spoken In South Africa.

Currently, 11 languages are spoken in South Africa and they made the official languages of South Africa, those 11 tribes or language are spoken far and wide South Africa, in which even one of the South African language has gone far across other countries beyond Africa.

 

Tag: How many languages in South Africa or how many languages are spoken In South Africa.

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