Sotho, Southern

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A language of Lesotho

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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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Sotho, Southern

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A language of Lesotho

Also spoken in:

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