Tswana

[Ɔkyeame Kwame]

Tswana
A language of Botswana

ISO 639-3: tsn
Population 1,070,000 in Botswana (1993 Johnstone). Population total all countries: 4,407,174.
Region Spoken throughout the country as lingua franca, and as first language primarily in the Southeast and Kgatleng districts, the eastern half of Southern and Kweneng districts, in the Serowe-Palapye and Mahalapye subdistricts of Central District, and around Maun village in Northwest District. Also spoken in Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Alternate names Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Setswana, Sechuana, Beetjuans
Dialects Tlahaping (Tlapi), Rolong, Kwena, Kgatla, Ngwatu (Ngwato), Tawana, Lete, Ngwaketse, Tlokwa. Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, and Tswana are largely inherently intelligible but have generally been considered separate languages. Standard Tswana uses Kgatla dialect.
Classification Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Tswana
Language use National language. Vigorous. 150,000 second-language speakers. Used among the educated. Used more for spoken purposes than written. Officially used as language of instruction in grades 1 to 4 in all government primary schools. All ages.
Language development Literacy rate in first language: 80% to 90%. Taught in primary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1857–1993.
Comments 90% to 95% of children complete standard 7 in primary school. Agriculturalists; pastoralists: cattle. Christian, traditional religion.
Also spoken in:
Namibia
Language name Tswana
Population 6,050 in Namibia (1991 census).
Region East central Namibia and Eastern Caprivi.
Dialects Tlharo, Tlhaping, Tawana.
Language use National language. Used in education, administration.
Comments Animal husbandry: cattle; agriculturalists.

South Africa
Language name Tswana
Population 3,301,774 in South Africa (1996 census).
Alternate names Tsiwaha, Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana
Dialects Tawana, Hurutshe, Ngwaketse, Thlaro, Kwena, Ngwato, Tlokwa, Melete, Kgatla, Thlaping (Tlapi), Rolong.
Language use Official language.
Language development Taught in primary and secondary schools.
Comments Christian, traditional religion.

Zimbabwe
Language name Tswana
Population 29,350 in Zimbabwe (1969 census).
Alternate names Chuana, Sechuana, Coana, Cuana, Tshwana, Beetjuans, Chwana
Dialects Ngwatu (Mangwato), Tlhaping.
Comments Spoken by the Bakaka.