Namibia is a multilingual country wherein German is recognised as a national language (a form of minority language).
Why is Namibia so German?
The reason Germany selected Namibia as its “protectorate” was influenced by the fact that a tobacco merchant from Bremen, Franz Luderitz, bought up coastal land in the area in 1882. This resulted in Germany actively establishing itself in the African country by 1884. They occupied Herero lands.
In what countries is German spoken?
German is the most widely spoken mother language and an official language in four countries in the European Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. German is also an official language in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Is German spoken in Tanzania?
Tanzania still has a few old German buildings from the earlier German colonial era, but it is in Namibia where the strongest German influence still exists. 3% of Namibia’s population speaks German as a first language, although that percentage is declining.
In which countries is German spoken by a large population?
German is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, where it is the spoken by the majority of the population. It is also spoken by a large percentage of the population in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and it is an official language in Belgium.
Do Germans still live in Namibia?
Today many Germans in Namibia are small and medium entrepreneurs. Many German-speakers live in the capital, Windhoek (German: Windhuk), and in smaller towns such as Swakopmund, Lüderitz and Otjiwarongo, where German architecture, too, is highly visible.
Which language is widely spoken in Namibia?
Language demographics
The most widely spoken languages used in households are Oshiwambo dialects, by 49% of the population, Khoekhoegowab by 11%, Afrikaans by 10%, RuKwangali by 9% and Otjiherero by 9%.
Is English older than German?
In reality, the English are just as Germanic as the Germans, as are the Dutch, the Swedes, the Norwegians, etc. Ultimately, all Indo-European languages are equally old. At what point they branched off into distinct languages is more of a question of definition than of historical fact.
Who speaks Low German?
It has been estimated that Low German has approximately 2.2–5 million speakers in Germany, primarily Northern Germany, and 2.15 million in the Netherlands.
…
| Low German | |
|---|---|
| Language family | Indo-European Germanic West Germanic North Sea Germanic Low German |
| Early forms | Old Saxon Middle Low German |
Is German hard to learn?
With plenty of straightforward rules, German is not actually as hard to learn as most people think. And since English and German stem from the same language family, you might actually be surprised at the things you pick up without even trying! And on top of it all, it’s definitely a useful one, too.
Do people speak German in Togo?
German became the official language. … Presently French is the official European language of Togo.
How do you say hi in Swahili?
There are basically five ways to say hello in Swahili:
- Hujambo or jambo (how are you?) – Sijambo (seeJAmbo) (I am fine / no worries)
- Habari? (any news?) – nzuri (nZOOree) (fine)
- U hali gani? (oo HAlee GAnee) (how are you) – njema (fine)
- Shikamoo (a young person to an elder) – marahaba.
- For casual interactions: mambo?
27.03.2017
Is Luxembourgish German?
Luxembourgish is a Moselle-Franconian dialect of the West Middle German group. This old language has been enriched by many French words and phrases, and the resulting dialect is spoken by all classes of people in Luxembourg.
What is the longest word in German?
At 80 letters, the longest word ever composed in German is “Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft,” meaning, the “Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services.” But it’s a coinage of strung together more for …
Which language is spoken most in world?
English is the largest language in the world, if you count both native and non-native speakers. If you count only native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the largest. Mandarin Chinese is the largest language in the world when counting only first language (native) speakers.
Where is the best German spoken?
The “best” German is considered to be spoken around Hannover.