Joanna James
The languages used in Zambia are an amalgamation of indigenous dialects and major languages of the world which combine in making this southern African country a rare gem of unimaginable value.
Aside from the numerous indigenous languages that you will discover and come into contact with the farther and deeper you venture in Zambia, the nation boasts of a vast volume of languages. These include Zambian sign language, pidgins Settla, Khwedam, Fanagalo and English (Zambian English) where the latter is treated as the official language which is made use of in education and all areas of business and commerce.
Given that different languages and dialects are resorted to throughout the nation, its influence and importance cannot be spoken of mildly. For instance, in schools found in rural parts of Zambia, the reliance on a local language equips students and places them on a platform where they enjoy the leeway and confidence to express their opinions as deemed fit.
Zambia’s association with English and essentially, British English for that matter stems from its period of colonial rule that the nation and its citizenry were subjected to under the United Kingdom. On the occasion of Zambia declaring independence in the year 1964, English was made the official language in the country. However, the use of English varies from section to section with as little as 2% of Zambians considering English as their 1st language. On the other hand, English is thought to be the most commonly used 2nd language across the nation which in short, tells you that you may not have too much trouble when it comes to communicating with locals or finding your way to a desired destination on your holiday. Evidencing this thought, should you be contemplating a visit to Zambia and seek a good base to reside at, then factor in the possibility of booking into Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara which is among some of the popular Victoria Falls hotels in Livingstone where English is widely spoken by its staff that would translate to hassle-free living experiences. Also, when you find yourself commuting through the streets of Lusaka which is the capital of Zambia, you will soon witness that signage on shops and markets brings to light the reliance on English. Though, there are some differences in the standard of English (Zambian English) spoken here with the omission of some object pronouns and the incorporation of South African words and phrases being those that are worthy of mention. As an example, the word “braai” which is South African is used to describe and make reference to local barbecue.
Zambia is home to a staggering 72 languages in total of which a handful date back to the migrations that arose during the 18th and 19th centuries respectively. Furthermore, the native languages are said to have originated from the members of the Bantu family and are believed to share close ties with one another. Additionally, a slew of regional languages are made use of in several provinces. These range from Bemba in the Northern Province, Lozi in the Western Province, Nyanja in the Eastern Province & Lusaka and Luvale, Kaonde & Lunda in the North-western Province.
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