Zande

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Alternate Names

Asande, Azande, Badjande, Bazande, Bazenda, Kizande, Pa-Dio, Pazande, Sande, Zandi, pa Zande, paZande

Pa-Zande

User Population

730,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Total users in all countries: 1,892,000 (as L1: 1,792,000; as L2: 100,000).

Bas-Uele and northern Haut-Uele provinces.

Language Maps

Northern Democratic Republic of Congo

Central African Republic

Language Status

5* (Developing).

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Zande, Zande-Nzakara

SVO, VSO.

Also use Bangala [bxg]. Used as L2 by Boguru [bqu], Kari [kbj], Sere [swf].

Language Development

Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1978.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Zande

Latin script [Latn], used in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Central African Republic

Language NameZande

User Population

62,000 in Central African Republic (1996).

Location

Haut-Mbomou prefecture: Obo, Rafaï, and Zémio subprefectures.

Alternate Names

Azande, Badjande, Pazande, Sande, Zandi

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Many also use Sango [sag]. Used as L2 by Birri [bvq].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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South Sudan

Language NameZande

User Population

1,100,000 in South Sudan, all users. L1 users: 1,000,000 in South Sudan (2017). L2 users: 100,000 (2013 SIL).

Location

Western Equatoria state: Ezo, Ibba, Nagero, Nzara, Tambura, and Yambio counties; parts of Maridi county.

Alternate Names

Azande, Badjande, Pazande, Sande, Zandi

Dialects

Dio, Makaraka (Odio).

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). LWC across Gbudwe and Tambura states, for church, market, and media domains. Regional language chosen for development by Rejaf Conference 1928.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Avokaya [avu], Baka [bdh], Boguru [bqu], Morokodo [mgc], Moru [mgd], Mündü [muh].

Language Development

Taught as subject in some primary schools through grade 3. The Ministry of Education, supported by donors, has started a pilot project to develop materials for teaching Zande as a subject and as language of instruction up to grade 3 in some schools.

Other Comments

Zande speech is fairly uniform.

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