Zande Language
/ˈzæn.deɪ ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/noun
The principal language of the Zande people, spoken mainly in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
Did you know?Anthropologist E. E. Evans-Pritchard’s study of Zande ideas about witchcraft helped make the Azande one of the best-known societies in the history of anthropology.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Zande
Azande
“The name of the Central African people whose language is called Zande; the initial a- is commonly treated as part of the ethnonym in many descriptions.”
19th Century
English and French
Zande
“European-language rendering of the ethnonym and designation for the people and their language.”
Early 20th Century
Anthropological English
Zande language
“Established English term for the language spoken by the Azande.”
20th Century
Linguistics
Zande
“Classification of the language within the Ubangi branch of the larger Niger-Congo family, though deeper internal relationships remain subject to linguistic analysis.”
Modern English
English
Zande language
“The standard English name for the language, also known in linguistic contexts as Zande or Azande.”