chitonga

Chitonga is a Bantu language spoken primarily in Zambia and Zimbabwe. It belongs to the Tumbuka-Tonga subgroup of the Bantu languages, which are part of the larger Niger-Congo language family. The Tonga people, who are the primary speakers of Chitonga, traditionally inhabit the Zambezi Valley in southern Zambia and parts of northwestern Zimbabwe.

The language is characterized by its tonal nature, meaning that the pitch of a syllable can distinguish between words that are otherwise spelled the same. Chitonga has a relatively complex grammatical structure, including noun classes and verb conjugations. While there are regional variations and dialects within Chitonga, they are generally mutually intelligible.

In Zambia, Chitonga is recognized as one of the country's official national languages and is used in education, media, and government. Efforts have been made to standardize and promote the language. In Zimbabwe, it is also spoken by a significant minority population. The cultural heritage of the Tonga people is closely tied to their language, and Chitonga plays a vital role in their social and artistic expressions.