Xhosa

Xhosa is a language spoken in South Africa, and is one of the official languages of the country. It is a member of the Bantu family of languages, and is closely related to Zulu and Swati. Xhosa is written using the Latin alphabet, and has a rich oral tradition. Xhosa is spoken by around 8 million people, and is the native language of the Xhosa people. It is also spoken as a second language by people from other ethnic groups in South Africa. Xhosa has a number of dialects, which are generally mutually intelligible. Xhosa is a tonal language, with two distinctive tones – high and low. The tones can change the meaning of a word, and are used to convey emotion. Xhosa is a highly rhythmic language, and its sounds are often described as 'sing-song'. Xhosa has a rich oral tradition, and many of its stories and poems have been passed down through the generations. Xhosa is also a very expressive language, and is often used in song and dance. Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa, and is used in education, government, and the media. It is also one of the languages of the African Union.