Comments are closed.
Malawi’s Mother Tongue
September 16th, 2008
Although it may sound strange, if you asked a Malawian to name Malawi’s mother tongue, they would more than likely answer – English! Yes, believe it or not, because Malawi was once a British Protectorate, the official language is English. All school pupils study it and so almost all Malawians speak English fairly fluently.
Of course, Malawians also have their own, African mother tongue – Chichewa. This is the language of the largest tribe in Malawi – the Chewa. Chichewa, the language of the Chewa tribe has become adopted as the national language and is therefore spoken by almost all Malawians.
Now, as if 2 languages weren’t enough! Malawians who do not belong to the Chewa tribe are also able to speak their own tribal language. There are many but some of the most commonly spoken are Chitimbuku, Yao and Chitonga.
The Timbuku and Tonga tribes live in the north of Malawi. The area we visited is populated mostly by the Tonga people, so, whilst we were living in Tonga country we attempted to learn some Chitonga – their tribal language.
Ada Tom Ampande, the bursar at BAGGS gave us a lesson in Chitonga most evenings after dinner and we practised on anyone willing to help. The staff in the hotel, teachers and pupils at the school and innocent passers-by were subjected to our pigeon Chitonga. By the end of our stay many of the group could happily, if not fluently, meet and greet people in Chitonga. The locals smiled and laughed and welcomed our attempts to converse with them in their own language and I believe we gained their respect for at least trying. Personally, I really enjoyed trying to perfect the few phrases we learned and was very chuffed to be referred to as Ama Tonga (Mrs Tonga) one day. I guess I’d arrived – in linguistic terms.
Well, now it’s your turn. Here are some of the words and phrases we learned. Give them a go and maybe you too could learn to Bluff Your Way In ChiTonga!
ChiTonga English
Muzungu White person
Wazungu A group of white people
Ada/Ama Respectful way to address a man/woman
Mwayuka uli Ama/Ada? Good morning/How are you?
Ndayuka umampha. I’m well.
Kwa li yi mwa? How are you?
Mwatandala uli Ama/Ada?Good afternoon /How are you?
Ndatandala umampha. I’m well.
Kwa li yi mwa? How are you?
Yewo OK
Ndawonga Thank you
Paweme Goodbye
| Comments Off
