Traversing the Sociolinguistic: The Status of Languages Spoken in Southern and Southeast Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyse the status of languages spoken in Zimbabwe, mainly on languages such as Xitsonga, Tshivenda and Pfumbi via a comparative analysis in relation to languages which were traditionally declared as national and official languages namely English, Shona and Ndebele. The Constitution of Zimbabwe supports the promotion and equality of all indigenous languages; however, there seems to be some discrepancies in the usage of English, Shona and Ndebele. Thus, this work found that the speakers of the languages in the peripheries of the nation have contributed to this phenomenon.