Nyakusa - ikiNyakyusa

1. Classification / Classification

Nyakusa belongs to the Konde Group of Bantu (Guthrie M31). (Webbook)

Ethnologue lists the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyakyusa (M.30)

Ngonde apparently both a synonym and a dialect name (see below, 4)

2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique

It is spoken in southwest Tanzania between Mbeya and Lake Nyasa as well as in the northern tip of Malawi and neighboring eastern Zambia. (Webbook)

The "Nyakyusa" page has a map showing the approximate area in which the language is spoken. See: http://www.nyakyusa.com/nyakyusa.htm

3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs

According to Ethnologue:

• 750,000 in Tanzania (1992 UBS)
• 300,000 in Malawi (1993 Johnstone)
• Population total all countries: 1,050,000

4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte

No dialect survey has come to our attention. Nurse (1979, p. 119) states "it is the impression of (first-language speakers) that Nyakusa has the following dialects:

1. Ngumba, also known as Kukwe,
2. Mwanba, also known as Sokelo,
3. Ngonde/Kaaselya. There was some disagreement among sources as to whether these are separate dialects or whether Ngonde included Kaaselya." (Webbook)

According to Ethnologue:

• Nyakyusa
• Kukwe
• Mwamba (Lungulu)
• Ngonde
• Selya (Salya, Seria)

5. Usage / Utilisation

Nyakusa is a local language. (Webbook)

Ethnologue describes language use "vigorous."

6. Orthography / Orthographe

6.1 Status / Statut

The orthographic status of Nyakusa is unknown to us as of this writing. (Webbook) [Needs update.]

6.2 Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple

A sample text from a book in Nyakyusa entitled Teti Teti can be read at: http://www.felberg.com/nyakyusa/tetitetitext.htm

Sample texts are shown on the "Language Museum" site as follows (these may or may not reflect current standards and use):

• Nyakyusa-Ngonde (Ngonde) http://www.language-museum.com/n/nyakyusa-ngonde-ngonde.htm
• Nyakyusa-Ngonde (Nyakyusa) http://www.language-museum.com/n/nyakyusa-ngonde-nyakyusa.htm

7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC

7.1 Fonts / Polices

7.2 Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier

7.3 Content on computers & internet / Contenu en informatique et sur l'Internet

"Nyakyusa" is a site with some content in the language as well as information on it: http://www.nyakyusa.com/nyakyusa.htm

7.4 Localized software / Logiciels localisés

No localisation efforts known of.

7.5 Language codes / Codes de langue

• ISO 639-1: -
• ISO 639-2: -
• ISO/DIS 639-3: nyy

7.6 Other / Autre

8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation

8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)

Knut Felberg

8.2 Institutions / Institutions

8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile

Aside from the "Nyakyusa" website, there is "Nyakyusa Blog" at http://blog.nyakyusa.com/

9. Comments / Remarques

10. References / Références

Dwyer, David (1997), Webbook of African Languages, http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/hiermenu.html (page on "Nyakusa," http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/Nyakusa_root.html )

Felberg, Knut, "Nyakyusa" (website), http://www.nyakyusa.com/nyakyusa.htm

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Nyakyusa-Ngonde," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=nyy

SIL International, "ISO 639 Code Tables," http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/codes.asp

U.S. Library of Congress, "ISO 639.2: Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages: Alpha-3 codes arranged alphabetically by the English name of language," http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/English_list.php

< Nupe | Major Languages | Oromo >