Nambya

NMQ

developing

Alternate Names: Chinambya, Nambzya, Nanzva

Dialects: None known. Slight pronunciation difference in Jambezi area. Reportedly most similar to Kalanga ,.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Bantoid
Southern
Narrow Bantu
Central
S
Shona (S.16)

Demographics: 90,000 in Zimbabwe (Chebanne and Nthapelelang 2000). Population total all countries: 105,000.

Language Use: Also use Dombe [dov], English [eng], Ndebele [nde], Shona [sna], Tonga [toi]. Used as L2 by Dombe [dov].

Language Development: Literacy in Ndebele and English. Nambya is rarely written and not taught in school, so educated young people will often choose Ndebele [nde] as their mode of communication, unless speaking to other Nambya. NT: 1993.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Zimbabwe

Other Comments: Glossonym: Nanzva by the Ndebele. Ethnonym: Banyai. Christian.