لغات كينيا
| لغات Kenya | |
|---|---|
| اللغة الرسمية | English and Swahili[1] |
| اللغة الرئيسية | Swahili (lingua franca) |
| لغة الإشارة | Kenyan Sign Language |
| Common keyboard layout(s) |  |
| جزء من سلسلة عن |
| ثقافة كينيا |
|---|
 |
|
|
Kenya is a multilingual country. The Bantu Swahili language and English, the latter being inherited from colonial rule (see British Kenya), are widely spoken as lingua franca. They serve as the two official working languages. Including second-language speakers, there are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya.[2]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview
According to Ethnologue, there are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya. This variety is a reflection of the country's diverse population that includes most major ethnoracial and linguistic groups found in Africa (see Languages of Africa).
Languages spoken locally belong to three broad language families: Niger-Congo (Bantu branch) and Nilo-Saharan (Nilotic branch), spoken by the country's Bantu, Nilotic populations and the Cushitic, Afroasiatic language family respectively. The Arab ethnic minority speak languages belonging to the separate Afroasiatic family, with the Hindustani and British residents speaking languages from the Indo-European family.[3]
Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations.
British English is primarily used in Kenya. Additionally, a distinct local dialect, Kenyan English, is used by some communities and individuals in the country, and contains features unique to it that were derived from local Bantu languages such as Kiswahili and Kikuyu.[4] It has been developing since colonisation and also contains certain elements of American English. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling and government.[5] Peri-urban and rural dwellers are less multilingual, with many in rural areas speaking only their native languages.[6]
Language families
Major languages
The 2019 census reports the largest communities of native speakers in Kenya as follows:
Minor languages
Languages spoken by the country's ethnic minorities include:
References
- ^ "The Constitution of Kenya" (PDF). Kenya Law Reports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Kenya - Languages | Ethnologue".
- ^ Ethnologue - Languages of Kenya
- ^ Nyaggah, Lynette Behm. "Cross-linguistic influence in Kenyan English: The impact of Swahili and Kikuyu on syntax". University of California. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ^ Proquest Info & Learning (COR) (2009). Culturegrams: World Edition. p. 98. ISBN 978-0977809165.
- ^ E. K. Brown, R. E. Asher, J. M. Y. Simpson (2006). Encyclopedia of language & linguistics, Volume 1, Edition 2. Elsevier. p. 181. ISBN 0080442994.
- ^ "Languages of Kenya". Ethnologue (in الإنجليزية).
- ^ “Orma”, Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
- ^ “Rendille”, Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
External links
- Linguistic map of Kenya at Muturzikin.com
- Ethnologue page for Kenya
- National Public Radio story about Kisii language from All Things Considered program, April 29, 2006
- PanAfriL10n page on Kenya
انقر على المناطق الملونة لترى المقالة المتعلقة:  | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||