Namibia, despite its scant population, is home to a wide diversity of languages, from multiple language families: Germanic, Bantu, and the various Khoisan families.Upon Namibian independence in 1990, English was enshrined as the nation’s sole official language in the constitution of Namibia.
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Which English is used in Namibia?
Namlish
Namlish (a portmanteau of the words Namibian and English) is a form of English spoken in Namibia. The term was first recorded in 1991. English is the country’s official language since independence in 1990.
What is the most commonly spoken language in Namibia?
In the end, English became the sole official Namibian language. The main reason given to this was that English is an international language and that it is a unifying force for promoting national integration, unity and intellectual understanding.English, therefore, provides a neutral means for communication.
Why is English important in Namibia?
Is Namibia a safe place to live? Namibia is generally a very safe country, especially compared to neighboring South Africa. Still, the high rate of poverty and unemployment leads to a fair amount of opportunistic crime. The most common types of crimes are pickpocketing, purse-snatching, and vehicle theft and break-ins.
Is it safe to live in Namibia?
During the period as a German colony from 1884 to 1915 German was the only official language in German Southwest Africa, as Namibia was then known.The German-speaking population wished German to be reinstated as an official language and in 1932 the Treaty of Cape Town encouraged South Africa to do so.
Why does Namibia speak German?
Obviously the first thing you need to know in Namibia is saying hello. In Afrikaans, it’s a plain hallo (huh-low). The Germans say guten tag (gut-ten taahg) and in Oshiwambo its Wa lalapo, which means good morning. You can also use the slang term Howzit – which is a combination of hello and how are you all in one.
How do you say hello in Namibia?
As mentioned above, English is the official language of Namibia. However, the language is spoken by less than 1% of the population of the country as their native language. 4% to 5% of the population, mainly the Angolan community, speak Portuguese. Among the whites of Namibia, 60% speak the Afrikaans languages.
Is Namibia a French speaking country?
As per the 2011 census, 0.9% of all Namibian households used German as a home language (4,359 households), as compared to 10.4% using Afrikaans (48,238) and 3.4% using English (15,912). German is spoken by only 0.3% of the rural Namibians as compared to 1.7% of the urban Namibians.
What percent of Namibia speaks German?
Windhoek
What is capital of Namibia?
After 106 years of German and South African rule, Namibia became independent on March 21, 1990, under a democratic multiparty constitution. The capital of the country is Windhoek.
Do they speak Afrikaans in South Africa?
Afrikaans and English are the only Indo-European languages among the many official languages of South Africa. Although Afrikaans is very similar to Dutch, it is clearly a separate language, differing from Standard Dutch in its sound system and its loss of case and gender distinctions.
What is the official language of Botswana?
English
How many official languages are in Namibia?
Thirteen languages have been recognized in Namibia as national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages spoken by 87.8% of the population and 3 Indo-European languages spoken by 11.2% of the population.
Is Namibia rich or poor?
Overview. Namibia is a higher-middle-income country with an estimated annual GDP per capita of US$5,828 but has extreme inequalities in income distribution and standard of living.
Are Namibians friendly?
As a whole, Namibians are incredibly friendly, the country’s infrastructure is good, and the level of corruption found here is far less than neighbouring countries. It is, overwhelmingly, a peaceful and welcoming country.
Can a foreigner buy a house in Namibia?
Except for agricultural land, there are no restrictions on nonresident foreigners and legal aliens owning property in Namibia. Most property ownerships are freehold.
What African country speaks English?
Sierra Leone and Liberia are the only countries in Africa where English is spoken as the primary language. English is the primary language of Nigeria and Ghana, but the language is spoken as a lingua franca in both states.
Do they speak Afrikaans in Namibia?
Afrikaans is also widely spoken in Namibia. Before independence, Afrikaans had equal status with German as an official language. Since independence in 1990, Afrikaans has had constitutional recognition as a national, but not official, language.
Where in Africa do they speak German?
Namibia – The only German speaking country in Africa.
What food is eaten in Namibia?
Namibian Food: 15 Popular & Traditional Dishes to Try
- 1 – Oshithima (Maize or Mahangu Pap)
- 2 – Oodhingu (Dried Meat)
- 3 – Omboga (Dried Wild Spinach)
- 4 – Omagungu (Mopane Worm)
- 5 – Potjiekos.
- 6 – Zambezi Bream (Fish)
- 7 – Biltong.
- 8 – Kapana (Grilled Beef)
What is the national dish of Namibia?
pap
In the north of Namibia, pap is made from mahangu – pearl millet. Most staff members listed ‘meat and pap’ as their favourite dish, which is the unofficial Namibian national dish. Some elaborated with details of accompanying omboga (cabbage), red meat dishes and fish.
