Sukuma, Nyamwezi

1. Classification / Classification

Sukuma and Nyamwezi, which form a dialect continuum, are placed in the Sukuma-Nyamwezi Group of Bantu (Guthrie F20). (Webbook)

Ethnologue lists the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F, Sukuma-Nyamwezi (F.20)

2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique

They are spoken in western Tanzania. (Webbook)

3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs

According to Ethnologue:

• Sukuma: 3,200,000 (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
• Nyamwezi: 1,200,000 (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)

4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte

According to Ethnologue:

• Sukuma (Dialects contiguous with Nyamwezi are intelligible with it.)
  • Kiya
  • Gwe (Kigwe)
• Nyamwezi
  • Nyanyembe
  • Takama (Garaganza)
  • Mweri (Sumbwa, Konongo, Kiya)

Lexical similarity between Sukuma and Nyamwezi is 84%. Other languages in the same classification have 61% or less lexical similarity with Sukuma and or Nyamwezi: Sumbwa, Nyaturu, Kimbu, Nilamba, Langi

5. Usage / Utilisation

The Sukuma-Nyamwezi cluster constitutes regional languages in Tanzania. At least one major newspaper, Lumuli, is published in this language (Sukuma dialect) in Tanzania. (Webbook)

Notes from Ethnologue:

• Language use of both Sukuma and Nyamwezi is described as "vigorous"
• (Sukuma) A few young people in cities do not speak Sukuma. In the country the young people borrow more Swahili in their Sukuma

6. Orthography / Orthographe

6.1 Status / Statut

A standardized Latin-based orthography exists for both. (Webbook)

6.2 Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple

The "Language Museum" site has text samples for:

• Nyamwezi http://www.language-museum.com/n/nyamwezi.htm
• Sukuma http://www.language-museum.com/s/sukuma.htm
• Sukuma (Gwe) http://www.language-museum.com/s/sukuma-gwe.htm

7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC

7.1 Fonts / Polices

Latin fonts without extended ranges (such as commonly used for English) will suffice. [verify!]

7.2 Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier

An English keyboard can be used. [verify!]

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

7.4 Localized software / Logiciels localisés

Not aware of any localisation efforts.

7.5 Language codes / Codes de langue

Nyamwezi

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

Sukuma

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

7.6 Other / Autre

8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation

8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)

8.2 Institutions / Institutions

8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile

9. Comments / Remarques

10.  References / Références

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

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Nyamwezi," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=nym

______, "Sukuma," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=suk

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

< Sotho, Southern | Major Languages | Suppire, Minianka >