Swazi language

Swati (also known as Swazi) (Swazi: SiSwati) is part of the Nguni group of Bantu languages. It is spoken by about 1.5 million people in Eswatini and South Africa. It is the official language of Eswatini and one of the eleven official languages in South Africa. It is taught in the schools of Eswatini, and in some South African schools. Swati is closely related to Phuthi, a language spoken in Lesotho, and to Zulu, Ndebele and Xhosa.

Swazi
SiSwati
Native toEswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique
Native speakers
2.3 million (2006–2011)[1]
2.4 million L2 speakers in South Africa (2002)[2]
Niger–Congo
Latin (Swazi alphabet)
Swazi Braille
Signed Swazi
Official status
Official language in
Eswatini
South Africa
Language codes
ISO 639-1ss
ISO 639-2ssw
ISO 639-3ssw
Glottologswat1243
Guthrie code
S.43[3]
Linguasphere99-AUT-fe

Swati has four main varietes: Shiselweni, Hhohho, Manzini and Shiselweni. They correspond with the four administrative regions of Eswatini.

References
Swati edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  1. Swazi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Webb, Vic. 2002. "Language in South Africa: the role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development." Impact: Studies in language and society, 14:78
  3. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
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