Chichewa

A language of Malawi

Location

West central and southwest.

Also spoken in:

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Botswana

Language NameChichewa

Alternate Names

Chicheŵa, Chinjanja, Chinyanja, Nyanja

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Eswatini

Language NameChichewa

User Population

5,700 in Eswatini (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mozambique

Language NameNyanja

User Population

1,290,000 in Mozambique (2017).

Location

Niassa, Tete, and Zambezia provinces. Macanga district, Tete (Angoni and Chewa dialects); Niassa province: Lago and Sanga (Ngoni dialect); Niassa and Tete, along Lake Niassa (Nyanja dialect).

Alternate Names

Chinyanja, CiNyanja, Cinianja

Dialects

Chewa (Cewa, Chichewa, Cicewa), Ngoni (Cingoni), Nyanja (Cinyanja), Angoni, Nyasa (Nyasa-Cewa).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Phimbi [phm], Sena [seh].

Other Comments

Ngoni people in Angonia District of Tete Province in western Mozambique have shifted to Nyanja. Traditional religion, Christian.

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Zambia

Language NameChichewa

User Population

2,180,000 in Zambia (2010 census). 500,000 Chewa, 40,000 Kunda 1,640,000 Nyanja (2010 census). Ethnic population: 1,060,000 (2010 census). 930,000 Chewa, 83,500 Kunda, 50,800 Nyanja (2010 census).

Location

Central and Eastern provinces.

Alternate Names

Chewa, Chicheŵa, Chinyanja, Cinyanja, Nyanja

Dialects

Chewa (Cewa), Peta (Chipeta, Cipeta, Malawi, Marave, Maravi), Chingoni (Ngoni), Manganja (Waganga), Nyasa, Kunda.

Language Status

4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Eastern, Central provinces.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Used as L2 by Yao [yao].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Taught as subject in primary schools in grades 1–4.

Other Comments

Kunda dialect is distinct from Kunda [kdn] of Mozambique.

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Zimbabwe

Language NameChichewa

User Population

405,000 in Zimbabwe (2012).

Location

Mashonaland Central province; possible communities in Harare and other urban areas.

Alternate Names

Chicheŵa, Chinyanja, Nyanja

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, Constitution, Article 6(1)).

Language Use

Also use Ndebele [nde] (Hachipola 1998). Also use Shona [sna] (Hachipola 1998).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Chichewa

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A language of Malawi

Also spoken in:

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