Languages of Zambia

Street view in Lusaka with signs in English.

In Zambia there are over 70 spoken languages. The most spoken one nationwide is Bemba, while Nyanja is the most popular language in Lusaka, the capital. The national language, since Zambia's independence in 1964, is English.

Languages like Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, and Tonga come from other country explorers.^{[citation needed]}

English functions as a lingua franca throughout the more urbanized parts of Zambia, although urbanized forms of Nyanja have taken the lead in the capital Lusaka. From 1964 on, English is used in official communications and has also been the primary medium of instruction in the education system. English often is the chosen (husbands/wives) language at home if (as is now common) there is an intertribal family. If one does visit Zambia it becomes evident that language continuously evolves and has led to Zambian slang which can be heard in daily life throughout Lusaka and other major cities.

List of languages

Ambo Aushi Bemba Bisa Chikunda Cishinga Chokwe English Gova

Ila Inamwanga Iwa Kabende Kaonde Kosa Kunda Kwandi Kwandu Kwangwa

Lala Lamba Lenje Leya Lima Liyuwa Lozi Luano Luchazi Lumbu Lunda Lundwe Lungu Luunda Luvale

Makoma Mambwe Mashasha Mashi Mbowe Mbukushu Mbumi Mbunda Mbwela Mukulu Mulonga

Namwanga Ndembu Ng'umbo Nkoya Nsenga Nyanja Nyengo Nyiha

Sala Seba Senga Shanjo Shila Simaa Soli Subiya Swaka

Tabwa Tambo Toka Tonga Totela Tumbuka Twa Unga Wandya Yombe

See also

• Zambian names
• Zambian slang

References

• Kashoki, Mubanga E. and Ohannessian, Sirarpa. (1978) Language in Zambia. London: International African Institute.
• Kashoki, Mubanga E. (1990) The Factor of Language in Zambia. Lusaka: Kenneth Kaunda Foundation.
• Tordoff, William (ed.) (1974) Politics in Zambia. Manchester: Manchester University Press
• [Republic of Zambia]. Constitution of Zambia 1991 (as amended by Act no. 18 of 1996).

External links

• Census data from Zambia from Central Statistical Office, Zambia
• Ethnologue Listing of Zambian Languages
• Languages of Zambia