Malagasy

Malagasy refers to both the language spoken on Madagascar and the Malagasy people, the island's dominant ethnolinguistic group. It is spoken by the vast majority of Madagascar's residents and serves as a primary medium of daily communication, education, and media, alongside French. Malagasy communities also exist on neighboring islands and in diaspora communities around the world.

Linguistic classification: Malagasy is an Austronesian language within the Malayo-Polynesian branch. It developed on Madagascar after early Austronesian settlement and, although it forms a distinct Malagasy subgroup, shares cognates with other Austronesian languages. The language exhibits regional variation, with dozens of dialects grouped broadly into highland, coastal, and southern clusters.

Dialects and standard language: The Merina dialect of the central highlands forms the basis of what is commonly treated as standard Malagasy, used in education and national media. Other major dialects include Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Sakalava, and Antandroy, among many others. Dialects are generally mutually intelligible, though pronunciation, vocabulary, and some syntax vary by region.

Writing and official status: Malagasy is written in the Latin script. A standardized orthography has been developed by linguistic authorities, and Malagasy is one of Madagascar's official languages alongside French, reflecting its central role in public life.