There are at least two languages commonly called Ndebele:
- The Northern Ndebele language, a Nguni language spoken in Zimbabwe
- The Southern Ndebele language, classified as Nguni language or Sotho-Tswana language, spoken in South Africa, heavily influenced by surrounding Sotho-Tswana languages and therefore mostly classified as one of them. The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken Nguni languages are mostly spoken by Nguni people, which are group of clans and nations living in south-east Africa See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Xhosa language.Sort/separate infos about Ndebele language and Ndebele people until it can be Nguni languages are mostly spoken by Nguni people, which are group of clans and nations living in south-east Africa The Sotho-Tswana language group is a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken in Southern Africa including Tswana ( Setswana) Northern Sotho The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Sotho-Tswana language group is a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken in Southern Africa including Tswana ( Setswana) Northern Sotho
Ndebele is related to the Nguni language of Zulu spoken in South Africa. Nguni languages are mostly spoken by Nguni people, which are group of clans and nations living in south-east Africa The Zulu ( IsiZulu: amaZulu) are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10-11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal When Mzilikazi and his people separated from the Zulu, they took the Zulu language with them. Mzilikazi (meaning The Great Road) (ca 1790 - 9 September 1868) also sometimes called Mosilikatze was a Southern African king Part of them remained in the region of modern Pretoria. They are now the South Ndebele. Their language combines Zulu and Sotho-Tswana elements taken over from the neighbouring peoples. The major part of the Ndebele went northward into present-day Zimbabwe. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Therefore their language is Nguni without Sotho-Tswana elements.
Ndebele has several unusual sounds. There are three clicks:
- c - sounds like the "tsk" noise made when pulling your tongue away from your front teeth
- q - a clucking noise made by pulling your tongue away from the roof of your mouth
- x - the sound we might use to call a dog; made on the side of your mouth
Other interesting sounds include:
- hl - form your mouth to say an "l" but say an "h" instead
Northern Ndebele is also spoken in the Limpopo province. It is recognised as a non official language,but, recognised by PANSLAB as there are a significant number of people speaking it as a first language. Areas where the language is spoken as a first language includes Mokopane, which was previously known as Potgietersrus and Polokwane which was known as Pietersburg. Furthermore, Northern Ndebele is spoken in Gauteng in areas such as Hammanskraal and Soshanguvhe in Pretoria.
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic