What language family is spoken in Madagascar?
What language family is spoken in Madagascar?
Malagasy languages, a cluster of languages spoken on Madagascar and adjacent islands and belonging to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family of languages. The various Malagasy dialects are all closely related, having diversified only in the last 2,000 years when Madagascar was settled by an Indonesian people.
How many languages are spoken in Madagascar?
Madagascar has two official languages: Malagasy and French. Both were named official languages of the newly established Malagasy Republic in the first Constitution of 1958….Numbers.
| One | Isa/iray |
|---|---|
| Two | Roa |
| Three | Telo |
| Four | Efatra |
| Five | Dimy |
Who speaks Malagasy in the world?
Madagascar
Who Speaks MALAGASY? Malagasy is estimated to be spoken by 13 million people, most of whom live on Madagascar. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.
What language do most people speak in Madagascar?
Malagasy
| Languages of Madagascar | |
|---|---|
| Official | Malagasy, French |
| Foreign | English |
| Signed | Malagasy Sign Language |
What are the top three languages in Madagascar?
| Languages of Madagascar | |
|---|---|
| Official | Malagasy, French |
| Foreign | English |
| Signed | Malagasy Sign Language |
Why is Malagasy spoken in Madagascar?
Malagasy is the westernmost Malayo-Polynesian language, brought to Madagascar by the settlement of Austronesian peoples from the Sunda islands around the 5th century AD. The Malagasy language is one of the Barito languages and is most closely related to the Ma’anyan language, still spoken on Borneo to this day.
What are the official languages of Madagascar?
Malagasy. Malagasy is the main language of Madagascar,and is spoken by almost all of the resident population.
What language do they speak in Madagascar?
According to the country’s 1958 constitution, Madagascar’s two official languages are French and Malagasy . The latter is also the name of the indigenous ethnic group that inhabits the island and makes up about 90 percent of the total population.
Why does Madagascar speak French?
Madagascar was a French colony, and thus the French language was imposed in administration, law, the church, and formal communications both inside and outside the colony. After its independence, Madagascar opted to continue using French, just as most African countries continue to use the language of their colonisers.
What cultures are in Madagascar?
The culture of Madagascar reflects the origins of the Malagasy people in Southeast Asia and East Africa. The influence of Arabs, Indians, British, French and Chinese settlers is also evident.
