Alternate Names: Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Setswana
Dialects: Kgatla, Kwena, Lete, Ngwaketse, Ngwatu (Ngwato), Rolong, Sehurutshe, Tawana, Tlahaping (Thlaping, Tlapi), Tlokwa. High intelligibility among Southern Sotho ,, Northern Sotho ,, and Tswana. Standard Tswana is based on the Sehurutshe dialect and is nearly identical to it.
Status Notes: De facto national language.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 1,070,000 in Botswana (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 5,181,700. L2 users: 150,000 in Botswana.
Language Use: Vigorous. Used among the educated. More for spoken purposes than written. All ages.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 80%–90%. Official language of instruction grades 1–4 in all government primary schools. Taught in primary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1857–1993.
Spoken In: South Africa, Botswana
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Botswana
Other Comments: 90%–95% of children complete standard 7 in primary school. Christian, traditional religion.