Sotho, Southern

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A language of Lesotho

Alternate Names

Sisutho, Souto, Suthu, Suto

Sesotho

User Population

1,760,000 in Lesotho (Leclerc 2017f). Total users in all countries: 13,524,700 (as L1: 5,624,700; as L2: 7,900,000).

Language Maps

Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland

South Africa: Enlarged area

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1993, Constitution, Article 3(1)).

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.33)

None known. Northern Sotho [nso] and Setswana [tsn] are inherently intelligible but have generally been considered separate languages.

Language Development

Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Grammar. Bible: 1878–1989.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Sotho, Southern

Latin script [Latn].

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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Botswana

Language NameSotho, Southern

User Population

9,300 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Eswatini

Language NameSotho, Southern

User Population

5,400 in Eswatini (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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South Africa

Language NameSotho, Southern

User Population

11,750,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 3,850,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 7,900,000 (Webb 2002).

Location

Eastern Cape province: Senqu municipality, south of Lesotho; Free State province; Gauteng province: Kempton and Tembisa Park; North-West and Mpumalanga provinces border areas.

Alternate Names

Sesotho, Sisutho, Souto, Suthu, Suto

Dialects

Taung.

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng, East Cape, Free State, and North West provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15%–20%. Taught as subject in some primary and secondary schools from grade 4. Taught in primary schools through grade 3.

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

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