Page Type: languageSotho, Northern | Ethnologue

NSO ISO 639-3

Sotho, Northern

Sesotho sa Leboa Autonym

A language of South Africa

ISO 639
nso
Alternate Names
Pedi, Sepedi, Transvaal Sotho
Autonym
Sesotho sa Leboa
Population
13,720,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 4,620,000 in South Africa (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 9,100,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 13,731,000 (as L1: 4,631,000; as L2: 9,100,000).
Location:
Gauteng province: Pretoria area; Limpopo province; Mpumalanga province: Ehlanzeni and Nkangala districts; North-West province: Mortele municipality.
Language Status
1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Statutory provincial language in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces (2012, Use of Official Languages Act, No. 12, Section 4(1)).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.32)
Dialects
Masemola (Masemula, Tau), Kgaga (Khaga, Kxaxa), Koni (Kone), Tswene (Tsweni), Gananwa (Hananwa, Xananwa), Pulana, Phalaborwa (Phalaburwa, Thephalaborwa), Khutswe (Khutswi, Kutswe), Lobedu (Khelobedu, Lovedu, Lubedu), Tlokwa (Dogwa, Tlokoa, Tokwa), Pai, Dzwabo (Thabine-Roka-Nareng), Kopa (Ndebele-Sotho), Matlala-Moletshi. Dialects Pai, Kutswe, and Pulana are more divergent and sometimes called ‘Eastern Sotho’.
Language Development
Taught in primary and secondary schools. Radio. TV. Grammar. Bible: 1904–2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sotho, Northern
Writing
Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
Other Comments
Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Sotho, Northern
User Population
11,000 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Botswana

Map

Location: Gauteng province: Pretoria area; Limpopo province; Mpumalanga province: Ehlanzeni and Nkangala districts; North-West province: Mortele municipality.