Namibia is a multilingual country wherein German is recognised as a national language (a form of minority language). While English has been the sole official language of the country since 1990, in many areas of the country, German enjoys official status at a community level.

People also ask, what is the official language in Namibia?

English

Furthermore, do any countries in Africa speak German? Before the first World War, Germany had colonies in German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) and German South-West Africa (now Namibia). So the only African country which 'speaks German' in any real sense seems to be Namibia.

People also ask, how English became an official language in Namibia?

In Namibia, English was introduced as the official language in order to create a formal break with colonial legacy. Rather than choose German or Afrikaans-the languages of former powers- the Namibian government chose a language that represented its new independence (1).

How many languages are there in Namibia?

Namibia has 24 indigenous languages and major dialects, including Oshiwambo, Rukavango, Otjiherero, Damara, Nama, Silozi, Khoisan and Setswana, and three prominent languages of European origin, Afrikaans, German and English.

Related Question Answers

How many white people are in Namibia?

Current estimates of the White Namibian population run between 75,000 and 100,000. This discrepancy in data is because the Namibian government no longer collects data based on race.

What is the main religion in Namibia?

Religion in Namibia. Religion in Namibia is dominated by Christianity, with more than 90 percent of Namibian citizens identifying themselves as Christian. According to the United States DRL, in 2007 up to 75% were Protestant, including as much as 50% Lutheran.

Why do Namibians speak German?

During the period as a German colony from 1884 to 1915 German was the only official language in German Southwest Africa, as Namibia was then known. The German-speaking population wished German to be reinstated as an official language and in 1932 the Treaty of Cape Town encouraged South Africa to do so.

Who colonized Namibia?

From 1884, Namibia was a German colony: German South West Africa. After the First World War, the League of Nations mandated South Africa to administer the territory.

Is South Africa German?

German South West Africa (German: Deutsch-Südwestafrika) was a colony of the German Empire from 1884 until 1915, though Germany didn't officially recognise its loss of this territory until the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

German South West Africa.

German South West Africa Deutsch-Südwestafrika
Today part of	Namibia

How many indigenous languages are there in Namibia?

24 indigenous languages

What African countries speaks English?

There are more than a dozen African countries where English is an official language. These include Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana. Namibia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, and Nigeria.

Where is Swahili spoken?

Tanzania

When did Namibia choose English as its main national language?

1981

What is the longest word in German?

At 80 letters, the longest word ever composed in German is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft, the "Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services".

Where is German spoken as a first language?

It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol in Italy, the German-speaking Community of Belgium, and Liechtenstein.

German language.

German
Native to	German-speaking Europe
Region	Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Which country speaks German language?

German

Where is German used?

listen)) is a West Germanic language that is mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol in Italy, the German-speaking Community of Belgium, and Liechtenstein.

What percent of Austria speaks German?

Native speakers

Country	Speakers	Percentage
Austria	7,115,780	88.6%
Belize	9,364	2.7%
Belgium	76,920	0.7%
Canada	271,865	0.7%

How many countries are in Germany?

The country was reunified on 3 October 1990. Today, Germany is a federal parliamentary republic led by a chancellor. With 83 million inhabitants of its 16 constituent states, it is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, as well as the most populous member state of the European Union.

Which country has the largest concentration of German speakers outside of Europe?

This makes Argentina one of the countries with the largest number of German speakers and is second only in Latin America to Brazil.

What colonies did Germany have in Africa?

The six principal colonies of German Africa, along with native kingdoms and polities, were the legal precedents for the modern states of Burundi, Cameroon, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Togo.

Does South Africa speak German?

South Africa did not officially recognise German; however, de facto German was added to Afrikaans and English as a working language of the government. Only in 1984 would German officially be added as an official language.

Which language is widely spoken in Namibia?

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%.

How populous is Namibia?

2.448 million (2018)

Is Namibia an English speaking country?

When Namibia was administered by South Africa, Afrikaans, German, and English enjoyed an equal status as official languages. Upon Namibian independence in 1990, English was enshrined as the nation's sole official language in the constitution of Namibia.