Nguni languages

The Nguni languages are a group of Bantu languages spoken by the Nguni people. These languages are spoken in Southern Africa, mostly in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Nguni languages include Xhosa, Zulu, Swati, Hlubi, Phuthi and Ndebele (both Southern Ndebele and Northern Ndebele). 

The name "Nguni" comes from a man called Mnguni. He is a descendant of Ntu from Central Africa. Mnguni's descendants lived in the present day KwaZulu-Natal and some of his descendants crossed Mtamvuna River and gave birth to the Xhosa speakers whilst others ended up in present day, Swaziland, and today are known as Swati people. Others ended up in Mpumalanga and Limpopo where today are known as Southern Ndebeles. Others ended up crossing Limpopo River and are living in Zimbabwe and known also as Ndebeles. 

Language organization 

The Nguni languages are a sub-group of the Southern Bantu languages. These languages exist in a relatively small geographic area. The languages are closely related and sound very much alike. Many times the different languages are mutually intelligible -- that is, someone who speaks one Nguni language can understand someone speaking a different Nguni language.

Linguists and other researchers split the Nguni languages into two smaller groups: "Zunda Nguni" and "Tekela Nguni". 

Zunda languages
 Zulu (10 million)
 Xhosa (8 million)
 Northern Ndebele (or 'Zimbabwean Ndebele') (1,6 million)

Tekela languages
 Swati (3 million)
 Phuthi  (20,000)
 Bhaca,  Hlubi, Cele and Lala.

References

 Works cited 






Other websites
 Nguni languages at the Ethnologue. Accessed 2011-07-03.

Category:Languages of South Africa
Category:Bantu languages