Explain how the official language of South Africa changed between 1600 and 2009.
Answers
At least thirty-five languages indigenous to South Africa are spoken in the Republic, ten of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venḓa, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans. The eleventh official language is English, which is the primary language used in parliamentary and state discourse, though all official languages are equal in legal status, and unofficial languages are protected under the Constitution of South Africa, though few are mentioned by any name. South African Sign Language has legal recognition but is not an official language, despite a campaign and parliamentary recommendation for it to be declared one.[2]
Languages of South Africa
South Africa 2011 dominant language map.svg
Dominant languages in South Africa:
Afrikaans
English
Sepedi
Sesotho
Southern Ndebele
Swazi
Tsonga
Tswana
Venda
Xhosa
Zulu
None dominant
Official
English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Venda and Southern Ndebele
Significant
Khoekhoegowab, !Orakobab, Xirikobab, N|uuki, !Xunthali, Khwedam, SiPhuthi, IsiHlubi, SiBhaca, SiLala, SiNhlangwini ("IsiZansi"), SiNrebele (SiSumayela), IsiMpondo/IsiMpondro, KheLobedu, SePulana, HiPai, SeKutswe, SeṰokwa, SeHananwa, SiThonga, SiLaNgomane, SheKgalagari, XiRhonga et al.
Main
English
Signed
South African Sign Language
Keyboard layout
QWERTY