i-Namibia

Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.

Languages of Namibia

• See also SIL publications on the languages of Namibia.

Republic of Namibia. Formerly South West Africa. 1,954,033. National or official languages: English, regional languages: Diriku, Herero, Kwangali, Kwanyama, Lozi, Mbukushu, Nama, Ndonga, Tswana. Literacy rate: 16% (1989 WA). Also includes Chokwe (5,580), Fanagalo, Kgalagadi, Luyana, Nkhumbi, Nyemba (9,540), Portuguese, Standard German (12,827), Umbundu (2,880). Information mainly from G. Stanley 1968; M. Brenzinger 1997; W. Haacke and E. Elderkin 1997; T. Güldemann 1998; J. Maho 1998. Blind population: 1,400 (1982 WCE). The number of languages listed for Namibia is 28. Of those, all are living languages.

Living languages

Afrikaans	[afr] 133,324 in Namibia (1991 census). Not known in the north, in the Owambo tribes, and the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian More information.
Diriku	[diu] 29,400 in Namibia (1982 Prinloo et al.). Population total all countries: 31,400. Okavango. Also spoken in Angola, Botswana. Alternate names: Diriko, Gciriku, Rugciriku, Mbogedo, Mbogedu, Shimbogedu. Dialects: May be close to Sambya, Kwangali. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Diriku (K.70) More information.
English	[eng] 10,941 in Namibia (1991 census). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English More information.
Fwe	[fwe] 7,400 (1998). Western East Caprivi. Dialects: Close to Subiya. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50) More information.
Hai||om	[hgm] 16,000 in Namibia (1995 A. Miller-Ockhuizen). Mangetti Dune, Omataku, Grootfontein, Baghani, Tsintsabis. ‘Maroelaboom’ is the area of Namibia next to the Agricultural gate entering the former Bushmanland. Some moved to Kimberley, South Africa. Possibly in Angola, where they are reported to have come from. Also spoken in South Africa. Alternate names: “San”, “Saan”. Dialects: Kedi (Kedde, Keddi), Chwagga, Hain||um (Hei||om, Heikom, Heikum, Heikom Bushman). Somewhat intelligible with Kung-Tsumkwe (Ju|’hoan), but a different language. Also reported to speak a language or dialect similar to Nama and Damara. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Hain||um More information.
Herero	[her] 113,000 in Namibia (1991 census). Population total all countries: 133,000. Damaraland and northwest Ovamboland territory, Kaokoveld. Also spoken in Botswana. Alternate names: Otjiherero, Ochiherero. Dialects: Mbandieru, Kuvale. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Herero (R.30) More information.
Ju|’hoan	[ktz] 25,000 to 30,000 in Namibia together with the Vasekela, the !Xung, and the =|Kx’au||ein (1998 J. F. Maho, p.113). Northeast. Alternate names: Kung-Tsumkwe, Xû, Xun, Kung, !Xo, Ju’oasi, Zhu’oasi, Dzu’oasi, Tshumkwe, Dobe Kung, Xaixai. Dialects: Dzu’oasi (Ssu Ghassi, Zhu’oase), Nogau (Agau). Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern More information.
Kung-Ekoka	[knw] 1,757 in Namibia (2000). Population total all countries: 6,899. Okavango and Ovamboland Territory. Also spoken in Angola, South Africa. Alternate names: Ekoka-!Xû, Kung, !Kung, !Ku, !Xu, !Hu, Qxü, !Xun, !Khung, !Xung. Dialects: Akhoe. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern More information.
Kwambi	[kwm] 30,000 (1972 Nida). Ovamboland north. Possibly also in Angola. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20) More information.
Kwangali	[kwn] 73,074 in Namibia (2000 WCD). Population includes 2,000 Sambyu. Population total all countries: 83,976. Okavango. Also spoken in Angola. Alternate names: Sikwangali, Rukwangali, Kwangari, Kwangare. Dialects: Sambyu (Shisambyu, Sambiu, Sambio). Sambyu may be intelligible with Diriku. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40) More information.
Kwanyama	[kua] 713,919 in Namibia together with Ndonga and Kwambi; 1991 census. Northern Okavangoland. Alternate names: Ochikwanyama, Kuanyama, Ovambo, Humba, Kwanjama, Kwancama, Otjiwambo, Owambo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20) More information.
=|Kx’au||’ein	[aue] 2,000 in Namibia. Population total all countries: 4,000. Ovamboland Territory, Ekoka. Also spoken in Botswana. Alternate names: Kung-Gobabis, ||Au||ei, ||X’au||’e, =|Kx’au||’ei, Auen, Kaukau, Koko. Dialects: Nogau. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern More information.
Kxoe	[xuu] 4,000 in Namibia. Population includes 3,600 in West Caprivi and 400 in East Caprivi. Population total all countries: 9,988. West Caprivi in Namibia is recognized as the ‘core land’ of the Kxoe people by the Kxoe and the Namibian government. They also live in East Caprivi. Also spoken in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia. Alternate names: Kxoedam, Khwedam, Khoe, Xun, “Water Bushmen”, “Mbarakwena”, “Barakwena” “Barakwengo”. Dialects: ||Xo-Kxoe, ||Xom-Kxoe, Buma-Kxoe, Buga-Kxoe. Minor dialect differences within Kxoe. Related to ||Ani, |Anda, Naro, Khoekhoegowap but is quite distinct from each of these and not mutually intelligible. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest More information.
Lozi	[loz] 25,200 in Namibia (1982 Prinsloo et al.). East Caprivi Strip. Alternate names: Silozi, Rozi, Tozvi, Rotse, Rutse, Kololo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30) More information.
Mashi	[mho] Few speakers in Namibia. East Caprivi. Alternate names: Masi. Dialects: North Kwandu, South Kwandu, Mashi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40) More information.
Mbalanhu	[lnb] Northern. Alternate names: Mbalantu, Mbaanhu, Mbaluntu. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20) More information.
Mbukushu	[mhw] 20,000 in Namibia (1997 Andersson and Janson). Population total all countries: 44,000. Northwest Ovambo and northeast Okavango area, Andara. Also spoken in Angola, Botswana, Zambia. Alternate names: Mbukushi, Mambukush, Mampukush, Mbukuhu, Thimbukushu, Gova, Kusso. Dialects: Close to Kwangali. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Kwangwa (K.40) More information.
Nama	[naq] 176,201 in Namibia (1992 Barnard). Population includes 70,000 Nama, 105,000 Damara (1998 J.F. Maho). Population total all countries: 233,701. South central to the Orange River, Great Namaland. Also spoken in Botswana, South Africa. Alternate names: Naman, Namakwa, Namaqua, Maqua, Tama, Tamma, Tamakwa, Berdama, Bergdamara, Kakuya Bushman Nasie, Rooi Nasie, “Hottentot”, “Klipkaffer”, “Klipkaffern”, “Khoekhoegowap”, “Khoekhoegowab”. Dialects: Damara, Sesfontein Damara, Namidama, Central Damara, Nama. Sesfontein Damara is reported to be unintelligible to speakers of other dialects. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Nama More information.
Namibian Sign Language	[nbs] Classification: Deaf sign language More information.
Naro	[nhr] 4,000 in Namibia (1998 Maho). Eastern Namibia. Alternate names: Nharo. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Southwest More information.
Ndonga	[ndo] 429,541 in Namibia (2000 WCD). 713,919 in Namibia, including Kwanyama and Kwambi; 1991 census. Population total all countries: 692,230. Ovamboland. Also spoken in Angola. Alternate names: Ochindonga, Oshindonga, Osindonga, Otjiwambo, Owambo, Ambo. Dialects: Ngandyera, Eunda Kolonkadhi, Kwaludhi. Ngandyera may be a separate language. Partially intelligible with Kwanyama. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Ndonga (R.20) More information.
Subiya	[sbs] 24,500 in Namibia (1991). Population total all countries: 41,985. East Caprivi. Also spoken in Botswana, Zambia. Alternate names: Echisubia, Subia, Supia, Chikwahane, Chikuahane, Ciikuhane, Mbalangwe. Dialects: Lexical similarity 61% with Luyana, 60% with Tonga. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50) More information.
Totela	[ttl] East Caprivi. Alternate names: Echitotela. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, K, Subia (K.50) More information.
Tswana	[tsn] 6,050 in Namibia (1991 census). East central Namibia and Eastern Caprivi. Dialects: Tlharo, Tlhaping, Tawana. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Tswana More information.
Vasekela Bushman	[vaj] Western Caprivi area. Alternate names: !’O-!Khung. Dialects: May be the same as ‘Akhoe or Kung-Ekoka. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Northern More information.
!Xóõ	[nmn] 200 in Namibia (1985 Traill). Along the east central Botswana border in the vicinity of Aranos and Leonardville. Dialects: Auni (|Auni, |Auo), Kakia (Masarwa), Ki|hazi, Ng|u|en (Nu||en, |U||en, Ng|u|ei, |Nu||en, ||U||en), Nusan (Ng|usan, Nu-San, Noosan), Xatia (Katia, Khatia, Kattea, Vaalpens, |Kusi, |Eikusi), !Kwi. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, Hua More information.
Yeyi	[yey] 5,200 in Namibia (1998 Maho). East Caprivi strip. Alternate names: Shiyeyi, Yei, Yeei, Ciyei, Koba, Kuba. Dialects: Shirwanga. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Yeye (R.40) More information.
Zemba	[dhm] 12,000 in Namibia (1996 UBS). Kunene Region, northwest Namibia, especially around Etoto and Ruacana, near the Herero. Alternate names: Dhimba, Otjidhimba, Himba, Simba, Oluthimba, Luzimba. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Herero (R.30) More information.

This is awesome. And pretty outdated.