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'{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+ <big><big>'''Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo'''</big></big> |- ! Official language | [[French language|French]] |- ! National languages | [[Kikongo]], [[Lingala]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]] and [[Tshiluba]]. |- ! Other indigenous languages | More than [[:Category:Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|200]] |- ! Linguas francas | [[African French|French]], [[Kikongo]], [[Lingala]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]] and [[Tshiluba]]. |}[[Image:Map - DR Congo, major languages.svg|thumb|right|300px|The geographical distribution of the four national languages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] The [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] is a multilingual country where an estimated total of 242 languages are spoken (Ethnologue.com lists 214 living languages). The [[official language]], inherited from the colonial period, is [[French language|French]]. Four indigenous languages have the status of [[national language]]: [[Kikongo]], [[Lingala]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]] and [[Tshiluba]]. When the country was a Belgian colony, it had already instituted teaching and use of the four national languages in primary schools, making it one of the few African nations to have had literacy in local languages during the European colonial period. During the colonial period both Dutch and French were the official languages but French was by far the most important. == French == [[File:Connaisance du français en RDC (2005).PNG|thumb|right|400px|Knowledge of French language in the DRC in 2005 according to the OIF.]] [[French language|French]] is the official language of the country since its colonial period under [[Belgian colonial empire|Belgian]] rule. Therefore, the variety of French used in the DRC has many similarities with [[Belgian French]]. The colonial language has been kept as the official language since the time of independence because it is widely spoken around the educated groups in the country, it is ethnically neutral, and eases communication between all the different ethnic groups of the Congo as well as with the rest of the [[Francophonie]]. According to the [[OIF]][http://20mars.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/FICHE_03_Nombre_de_francophones.pdf], 6,080,000 or 10% of the population were real French speakers in 2005 whereas another 18,240,000 or 30,0% were partially French speaking. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently the most popolous French-speaking country. '''See also:''' [[African French|French in Africa]] == Kikongo == The constitution says [[Kikongo]] is one of the national languages, but it's a [[dialect continuum]] with several varieties which may not be [[mutually intelligible]]. It is commonly accepted that the [[Kituba]] variant, also called ''Kikongo ya Leta'' (Kikongo of the government, ''Leta <= l'État'') is the language used in the administration in the provinces of [[Kongo Central]] (which is inhabited by the [[Bakongo]]), [[Kwango Province|Kwango]] and [[Kwilu Province|Kwilu]]. Kituba has become a [[vernacular language]] in many urban centres including [[Kikwit]], [[Bandundu]], [[Matadi]], [[Boma]] and [[Muanda]]. == Lingala == [[Lingala]] is a language which gained its modern form in the colonial period, with the push of missionaries to uniformize and teach a local [[vehicular language]]. It was originally spoken in the upper Congo river area but rapidly spread to the middle Congo area and eventually became the major [[Bantu language]] in Kinshasa for many reasons. Lingala was made the official language of the army under [[Mobutu Sese Seko|Mobutu]], but since the rebellions the army has also used Swahili in the east. With the transition period and the consolidation of different armed groups into the Congolese Army, the linguistic policy has returned to its previous form and Lingala is again the official language of the Army. == Swahili == [[Swahili language|Swahili]] is the most spoken vehicular language spoken in Eastern [[Equatorial Africa]]. Many variations of Swahili are spoken in the country but the major one is Kingwana, sometimes called ''Copperbelt Swahili'' especially in the Katanga area. Suck my cock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! == Tshiluba == The constitution does not specify which variation of [[Tshiluba]] is a national language. There are two major variations of Tshiluba: [[Luba-Kasai]], spoken in the [[East Kasai Region]] ([[Luba people]]) and [[Luba-Lulua]], in the [[West Kasai Region]] ([[Bena Lulua people]]). Luba-Kasai seems to be the language used by the administration. == Sign languages == There are 12 deaf institutions in the country, most teach [[French Sign Language]] or variations. [[American Sign Language]] is also practiced in the country. == Other languages == The most noticeable other languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are [[Mongo language|Mongo]], [[Lunda language|Lunda]], [[Tetela language|Tetela]], [[Chokwe language|Chokwe]], [[Budza language|Budza]], [[Lendu language|Lendu]], [[Mangbetu language|Mangbetu]], [[Nande language|Nande]], [[Ngbaka language|Ngbaka]]. As of 2010 the government decided to include [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] as an optional language at schools as a reflex of the increasing influence in the continent.<ref name="TSF">[[TSF]]. (July 4th). ''[http://tsf.sapo.pt/PaginaInicial/Portugal/Interior.aspx?content_id=1585824 Português adoptado como língua opcional nas escolas da RD Congo]'', accessed in July 4th 2010 2010</ref> == See also== ===External links === {{Portalbox|Democratic Republic of the Congo|Languages}} *[http://www.muturzikin.com/cartesafrique/12.htm Linguistic map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo] from Muturzikin.com * [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=CD Ethnologue.com: Ethnologue report for the Democratic Republic of the Congo] * [http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/RepDemCongo PanAfrican L10n: Democratic Republic of Congo], languages and software localization * {{fr icon}} [http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/czaire.htm Linguistic situation in RDC] * {{fr icon}} [http://info-langues-congo.1sd.org/ New Technologies and languages of both Congos] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.educ-rdc.org/ ''ONG Éveil du Congo''], NGO working in localization and translations in Congolese national languages == Referências == <small> <div style="height: 250px; overflow: auto;"> {{reflist}} </div> </small> {{Africa in topic|Languages of}} {{Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}} {{DRC topics}} [[Category:Languages of Africa|Congo, Democratic Republic]] [[Category:Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo| ]] [[es:Idiomas de la República Democrática del Congo]] [[fr:Langues de la République démocratique du Congo]]'