13,862,325 (1996). Democratic Republic of Madagascar. Repoblika Demokratika Malagasy. Literacy rate 53% to 67%; 30.8% (1970 C. M. Brann). Also includes Reunion Creole French 40,000, Morisyen 4,000, Arabic 20,000, Chinese 16,000. Data accuracy estimate: B. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim. Blind population 40,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf institutions: 2. The number of languages listed for Madagascar is 6.
COMORIAN (COMORES SWAHILI, KOMORO, COMORO) [SWB] 25,000 in Madagascar (1993 Johnstone); 17,000 in Reunion (1993 Johnstone); 92,806 in Mayotte (1993 Johnstone); 493,220 in Comoros Islands (1993); 628,000 in all countries. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.40). Dialects: SHINZWANI (ANJOUAN), SHIMAORE (MAYOTTE). Vanilla, perfume production. Muslim. NT 1995. Bible portions 1983.
FRENCH [FRN] 18,000 in Madagascar (1993 Johnstone); 72,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA). Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Romance. National language. Bible 1530-1986. NT 1474-1980. Bible portions 1483-1987.
MALAGASY (MALGACHE, STANDARD MALAGASY) [MEX] 10,152,000 in Madagascar, including 3,200,000 Merina, 1,800,000 Betsimisaraka, 1,400,000 Betsileo, 767,000 Sakalava, 635,000 Antandroy, 473,000 Tanala, 422,000 Antaimoro (1993 Johnstone); 8,000 in Réunion (1993); 700 in Comoros Islands; 39,200 in Mayotte (1995); 10,156,900 in all countries. The main central part of the Island. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Barito, East, Malagasy. Dialects: MERINA (HOVA), TAISAKA (ANTAISAKA), TANOSY, TAIMANAMBONDRO, SAHAFATRA, TAIFASY, TAMBAHOAKA (ANTAMBAHOAKA), BETSIMISARAKA (BETSIMARAKA), SIHANAKA, BEZANOZANO (ANTAIVA, ANTANKA, TANKAY), TANALA (ANTANALA, MENABE-IKONGO), BARA, BETSILEO, SAKALAVA, VEZO, MAHARALY, TANALANA, ANTARDROY 1 (TARDROY), ANTARDROY 2, TANKARANA, TAIMORO (ANTAIMORO). Loans from Bantu languages, Swahili, Arabic, English, French. The Merina dialect was the first to be written in Latin characters and it has become the literary dialect. The closest language outside of Madagascar is Ma'anyan in south Borneo (Kalimantan, Indonesia). Dictionary. National language. Typology: VOS. Subsistence agriculturalists: coffee, cloves, vanilla, rice; perfume. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim. Braille Bible portions. Bible 1835-1938. NT 1830-1990. Bible portions 1828-1987.
MALAGASY, ANTANKARANA (ANTANKARANA) [XMV] 88,000 or .637% of the population (1996). Northern tip, Antananarivo. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Barito, East, Malagasy. 71% lexical similarity with Merina. Typology: VOS. Subsistence agriculturalists. Survey needed.
MALAGASY, SOUTHERN [XMU] 2,606,000 or 18.802% of the population (1996). Southern tip. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Barito, East, Malagasy. 61% lexical similarity with Merina. Typology: VOS. Subsistence agriculturalists. Survey needed.
MALAGASY, TSIMEHETY (TSIMIHETY, TSIMIHETRY) [XMW] 1,016,000 or 7.33% of the population (1996). North central. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Barito, East, Malagasy. 68% lexical similarity with Merina. Typology: VOS. Subsistence agriculturalists. Bible portions 1924. Survey needed.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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