Sotho, Northern

A language of South Africa

Population	4,090,000 in South Africa (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 4,101,000.
Region	Transvaal, south and central. Also in Botswana.
Language map	Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, reference number 5
Alternate names	Pedi, Sepedi, Transvaal Sotho
Dialects	Masemola (Masemula, Tau), Kgaga (Kxaxa, Khaga), Koni (Kone), Tswene (Tsweni), Gananwa (Xananwa, Hananwa), Pulana, Phalaborwa (Phalaburwa, Thephalaborwa), Khutswe (Khutswi, Kutswe), Lobedu (Lubedu, Lovedu, Khelobedu), Tlokwa (Tlokoa, Tokwa, Dogwa), Pai, Dzwabo (Thabine-Roka-Nareng), Kopa, Matlala-Moletshi. Dialects Pai, Kutswe, and Pulana are more divergent and sometimes called ‘Eastern Sotho’.
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Sotho, Northern
Language use	Official language.
Language development	Taught in primary and secondary schools. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1904–2000.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	Agriculturalists; miners; tourism. Christian, traditional religion.

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