Languages of Uganda: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | [[Image:Languages of Uganda.png|thumb|250px|right|Ethnolinguistic map is a [[multilingual]] country. Forty of its living indigenous languages<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=UG ''Ethnologue'', "Languages of Uganda"] (lists also 2 languages with no speakers, [[English language|English]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]], and Ugandan Sign Language for a total of 45)</ref> fall into three main families - [[Bantu languages|Bantu]], [[Nilotic =f these languages ([[Nkole language|Nkole]], [[Tooro language|Tooro]], [[Kiga language|Kiga]], and [[Nyoro language|Nyoro]]), and in order to facilitate work in them such as teaching, a standardized version called [[Runyakitara language|"Runyakitara"]] was developed around 1990. |
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[[Image:Languages of Uganda.png|thumb|250px|right|Ethnolinguistic map of Uganda.]] |
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| ⚫ | [[Uganda |
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In all of the Bantu speaking areas of Uganda, [[dialect continuum|dialect continua]] are very common. For example, people around Mbarara in Ankole District speak [[Nkole language|Nkole]] and people from Fort Portal in Toro District speak [[Tooro language|Tooro]], but in the area between those towns one will find villages where most of the people speak a dialect which is best characterized as intermediate between [[Nkole language|Nkole]] and [[Tooro language|Tooro]]. In recognition of the closeness of four of these languages ([[Nkole language|Nkole]], [[Tooro language|Tooro]], [[Kiga language|Kiga]], and [[Nyoro language|Nyoro]]), and in order to facilitate work in them such as teaching, a standardized version called [[Runyakitara language|"Runyakitara"]] was developed around 1990. |
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In south central [[Uganda]], the [[Bantu languages]] of [[Luganda]] and [[Soga language|Soga]] are largely [[Mutual intelligibility|interintelligible]]. |
In south central [[Uganda]], the [[Bantu languages]] of [[Luganda]] and [[Soga language|Soga]] are largely [[Mutual intelligibility|interintelligible]]. |
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Of Nilo-Saharan, the [[Eastern Sudanic languages|Eastern Sudanic]] branch is well represented by several Nilotic languages, [[Eastern Nilotic languages|eastern]] as well as [[Western Nilotic languages|western]]. Eastern Nilotic languages include [[Karamojong language|Karamojong]] of Eastern Uganda (370,000), the [[Bari languages]] in the extreme northwestern corner (about 150,000), and Teso south of Lake Kyoga (999,537). [[Alur language|Alur]] ( |
Of Nilo-Saharan, the [[Eastern Sudanic languages|Eastern Sudanic]] branch is well represented by several Nilotic languages, [[Eastern Nilotic languages|eastern]] as well as [[Western Nilotic languages|western]]. Eastern Nilotic languages include [[Karamojong language|Karamojong]] of Eastern Uganda (370,000), the [[Bari languages]] in the extreme northwestern corner (about 150,000), and Teso south of Lake Kyoga (999,537). [[Alur language|Alur]] (45 language|Lango]], |
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==Language policy== |
==Language policy== |
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In Uganda, as in many African countries, [[English language|English]], the language of the colonizing power, was introduced in government and public life by way of m |
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In Uganda, as in many African countries, [[English language|English]], the language of the colonizing power, was introduced in government and public life by way of missionary work and the educational system. During the first decades of the twentieth century, [[Swahili language|Swahili]] gained influence as it was not only used in the army and the police, but was also taught in schools. The [[Ganda people|Ganda]] viewed the introduction of [[Swahili language|Swahili]] as a threat to their political power and partly through their influence, [[English language|English]] remained the only official language at that time. Upon Uganda's independence in 1962, [[English language|English]] was maintained as the official language, as it was already rooted deeply in administration, media, and education. Also, Uganda's ethnolinguistic diversity made it difficult to choose another language as the [[official language]] of Uganda. |
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After independence there were efforts to choose an indigenous official language, with [[Swahili language|Swahili]] and [[Luganda]] as the most considered candidates. Although [[Luganda]] was the most geographically spread language, people outside [[Buganda]] were opposed to having it as a [[national language]],<ref>Ladefoged et al., 1972:28-30</ref> as were those of the Buganda kingdom because they felt other tribes' mispronunciation and grammar errors would ruin their language. [[English language|English]] remained the official language.<ref>Mpuga 2003</ref> |
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The native languages of the Ugandan people have had interesting effects on the [[English language|English]] spoken in the country, leading to what many call [[Ugandan English]]. |
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During the regime of [[Idi Amin]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]], the East African [[lingua franca]], became the second official national language, but it lost its official and national status in the 1995 Constitution. In September 2005, the Ugandan Parliament voted to once again make [[Swahili language|Swahili]] the second official national language. It is most widely spoken outside of Buganda. |
During the regime of [[Idi Amin]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]], the East African [[lingua franca]], became the second official national language, but it lost its official and national status in the 1995 Constitution. In September 2005, the Ugandan Parliament voted to once again make [[Swahili language|Swahili]] the second official national language. It is most widely spoken outside of Buganda. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
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*Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/. More specifically [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Uganda Ethnologue report for Uganda], retrieved August 19, 2005. |
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* Ladefoged, Peter; Ruth Glick; Clive Criper; Clifford H. Prator; Livingstone Walusimbi (1972) ''Language in Uganda'' (Ford Foundation language surveys vol. 1). London/New York etc. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-436101-2 |
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* Mpuga, Douglas (2003) '[http://www.umes.edu/english/newalp/pdf/douglasmpuga.pdf The official language issue: A look at the Uganda Experience]'. Unpublished paper presented at the African Language Research Project Summer Conference, Maryland. |
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* Parry, Kate (ed.) (2000) ''Language and literacy in Uganda: towards a sustainable reading culture''. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. |
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{{Languages of Uganda}} |
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{{English dialects by continent}} |
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{{English official language clickable map}} |
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{{Uganda-stub}} |
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{{Language-stub}} |
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<!--Categories--> |
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[[Category:Languages of Uganda| ]] |
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<!--Other languages--> |
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[[bn:উগান্ডার ভাষা]] |
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Revision as of 18:30, 5 February 2013
[[Image:Languages of Uganda.png|thumb|250px|right|Ethnolinguistic map is a multilingual country. Forty of its living indigenous languages[1] fall into three main families - Bantu, [[Nilotic =f these languages (Nkole, Tooro, Kiga, and Nyoro), and in order to facilitate work in them such as teaching, a standardized version called "Runyakitara" was developed around 1990.
In south central Uganda, the Bantu languages of Luganda and Soga are largely interintelligible.
Of Nilo-Saharan, the Eastern Sudanic branch is well represented by several Nilotic languages, eastern as well as western. Eastern Nilotic languages include Karamojong of Eastern Uganda (370,000), the Bari languages in the extreme northwestern corner (about 150,000), and Teso south of Lake Kyoga (999,537). Alur (45 language|Lango]],
Language policy
In Uganda, as in many African countries, English, the language of the colonizing power, was introduced in government and public life by way of m
During the regime of Idi Amin, Swahili, the East African lingua franca, became the second official national language, but it lost its official and national status in the 1995 Constitution. In September 2005, the Ugandan Parliament voted to once again make Swahili the second official national language. It is most widely spoken outside of Buganda.
Notes
- ^ Ethnologue, "Languages of Uganda" (lists also 2 languages with no speakers, English, Swahili, and Ugandan Sign Language for a total of 45)