Zinza | Ethnologue

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639: zin
Alternate Names: Abazinza, Binza, Dzinda, Dzindza, Echidzindza, Echijinja, Echizinza, Ecijinja, Ecizinza, Ekizinza, Jinja, Kizinza, Omuchizinza, Zinja
Autonym: Echiziinza, Zinza
Population: 205,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), decreasing. Includes 18,000 Longo.
Location:: Geita, Kagera, and Mwanza regions: Lake Victoria southwest shore; area islands.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Haya-Jita (E.23)
Dialects: Longo, Kula. Lexical similarity: 81% with Nyambo [now] and Nyankore [nyn], 78% with Haya [hay], 76% with Kerewe [ked], 75% with Chiga [cgg], 67% with Nyoro [nyo] and Tooro [ttj].
Language Use: Vital language where Zinza are the majority. In other areas possible shift to Sukuma [suk]. Home. Some of all ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Sukuma [suk]. Also use Swahili [swh].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literature. Bible portions: 1930–2012.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Zinza
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Traditional religion.

Location: Geita, Kagera, and Mwanza regions: Lake Victoria southwest shore; area islands.