Native to Comoros and Mayotte Writing system Arabic
Latin | Native speakers 700,000 (1993–2004) Official language in Comoros | |
Region Throughout Comoros and Mayotte; also in Madagascar and Réunion Language family Niger–Congo
Atlantic–Congo
Benue–Congo
Southern Bantoid
Bantu
Northeast Coast Bantu
Sabaki
Comorian | ||
Comorian (Shikomori or Shimasiwa, the "language of islands") is the most widely used language on the Comoros (independent islands in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique and Madagascar) and Mayotte. It is a set of Sabaki dialects but with less Arabic influence than standard Swahili. Each island has a different dialect and the four are conventionally divided into two groups: the eastern group is composed of Shindzuani (spoken on Ndzuwani) and Shimaore (Mayotte), while the western group is composed of Shimwali (Mwali) and Shingazija (Ngazidja).
Map of Comoros
No official alphabet existed in 1992, but historically the language was written in the Arabic script. The colonial administration introduced the Latin script, of which a modified version is now being promoted in the country; the Arabic script remains widely used and literacy in the Arabic script is higher than in the Latin script.
It is the language of Udzima wa ya Masiwa, the national anthem.