Ndau (also called chiNdau, Chindau, Ndzawu, Njao, Chidanda) is a Bantu language spoken by 2,400,000 people.
Ndau is a Shona language and it is mutually intelligible with other Shona languages such as Manyika, Zezuru and Karanga. The 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe accorded Ndau's status as an official language.
It is a national language of Zimbabwe.
Sample text
The mutual intelligibility of Ndau with other Shona varieties is fairly high, but some speakers of other Shona varieties may find it difficult to understand. Differences and similarities can be measured by examining a Ndau version of Lord's Prayer:
The equivalent paragraph in Standard Shona (mainly based on Zezuru) is:
Phonology
Consonants LabialAlveolarLateralPost-alveolarVelarGlottalplainlab.plainwstd.lab.pal.plainlab.plainlab.plainlab.plainlab.Plosivevoicelessvoicedaspiratedimplosive()ejectiveprenasal vl.prenasal asp.prenasal vd.AffricatevoicelessvoicedaspiratedejectiveprenasalFricativevoicelessvoicedprenasalNasalvoicedbreathyTrillApproximant
Other labialized sounds are labialized-whistled sounds as . Other palatalized sounds are labialized-palatalized ones as . Other affricate sounds are . may also range to voiced within dialectal areas. may also range to labio-dental in free variation. The velar implosive only appears in a few words. when occurring before vowels , can be heard as a lateral flap . Sibilant sounds may have aspirated allophones as . Prenasal aspirated sounds can have allophones as prenasal-devoiced plosives . +Click consonantsDentalPost-alveolarLateralVoicelessplainaspiratednasalizedVoicedplainnasalized
Vowels FrontCentralBackCloseMidOpen
Alphabet While the mainstream Shona language excludes L, Q and X from its alphabet, Ndau orthography uses them as shown by the examples below:
Mainstream Shona "Akatizira and the Ndau version Akafohla: 'L' is used in the digraph hl for the sound . Mainstream Shona "kuridza tsamwa and the Ndau version kuxapa: 'X' is used for the click consonant . Mainstream Shona "Kurara and the Ndau version Kuqambaya: 'Q' is used for the click consonant .
These sounds have been acquired from neighboring Nguni languages.
Proverbs, fables, and songs In 1922, C. Kamba Simango, a Vandau ethnographer, working together with Franz Boas, published a collection of 20 Ndau fables and 29 Ndau proverbs, accompanied by an English translation, in the Journal of American Folklore.Boas, Franz; Simango, C. Kamba (1922). "Tales and Proverbs of the Vandau of Portuguese South Africa." Journal of American Folklore. 35 (136): 151-204. The following are some of the proverbs: "Simba lo ngwena lili mumfula." ("The strength of the crocodile is in the water.") (#1) "Chipanga achizivi vatendji." ("The knife does not know its owner; i.e. it cuts everyone, even its owner.") (#8) "Hove djinotevela mulambo wadjo." ("Fish follow their river; i.e. people will support their own family or tribe.") (#24) "Manthede a·novengana pakurga, napamfumfu anobesana." ("Baboons quarrel over food, but in danger help one another.") (#28)
Simango also provided the Ndau texts and translations that appear in Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent by Natalie Curtis Burlin, published in 1920.Burlin, Natalie Curtis; Simango, C. Kamba; Čele, Madikane (1920). Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent. The book contains 6 proverbs in Ndau and English with commentaryBurlin 1920, p. 14. along with songs that include the Ndau lyrics, English translation, plus a transcription of the music.Burlin 1920, pp. 81-129. There are ritual songs, including Mate'ka, "Song of the Rain Ceremony;"Burlin 1920, pp. 20-23. Manthi'ki, "Spirit Song;"Burlin 1920, pp. 24-28. Lum'bo Lgo Lu'do, "Love-Song;"Burlin 1920, pp. 28-29. and Mafu've, "Dance of Girls,"Burlin 1920, pp. 29-30. along with a selection of "Children's Songs,"Burlin 1920, pp. 30-31. "Laboring Songs,"Burlin 1920, pp. 32-35. and "Dance Songs,"Burlin 1920, pp. 35-39. plus Kufa'mba, a mocking songBurlin 1920, pp. 39-40. and Chili'lo, a lament.Burlin 1920, pp. 41-43. There are also 2 songs in Ndau and in English included in the folktale, "How the Animals Dug Their Well,"Burlin 1920, pp. 45-47. plus a song that is part of the "Legend of the Daughter and the Slave"Burlin 1920, pp. 49-51. and a song that is part of the "Legend of the Sky-Maiden."Burlin 1920, pp. 51-53. In an appendix, there is an interlinear word-for-word rendering of the Ndau proverbs and song lyrics into English.Burlin 1920, pp. 153-164.
References