1 - Introduction

Summary

General remarks

Chichewa is a language of the Bantu language group in the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Kordofania language family. It is spoken in parts of east, central and southern Africa. Since 1968 it has been the dominant language in the east African nation of Malawi where, until recently, it also served as that country's national language. It is spoken in Mozambique (especially in the provinces of Tete and Niassa), in Zambia (especially in the Eastern Province), as well as in Zimbabwe where, according to some estimates, it ranks as the third most widely used local language, after Shona and Ndebele. The countries of Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique constitute, by far, the central location of Chichewa. Because of the national language policy adopted by the Malawi government, which promoted Chichewa through active educational programs, media usage, and other research activities carried out under the auspices of the Chichewa Board, out of a population of around 9 million, upwards of 65 percent have functional literacy or active command of this language. In Mozambique, the language goes by the name of Chinyanja, and it is native to 3.3 percent of a population numbering approximately 11.5 million. In Tete province it is spoken by 41.7 percent of a population of 777, 426 and it is the first language of 7.2 percent of the population of Niassa province, whose population totals 506, 974 (see Firmino 1995). In Zambia with a population of 9.1 million, Chinyanja is the first language of 16 percent of the population and is used and/or understood by at least 42 percent of the population, according to a survey conducted in 1978 (cf. Kashoki 1978). It is one of the main languages of Zambia, ranking second after Chibemba.