Also Known As:
Dhimba, Dimba, Otjidhimba, Zemba, Tjimba, Simba, Chimba, Oluthimba, Luzimba
Dialects & Varieties
A sociolinguistic survey of the Dhimba language
Kunkel, Janet and Barbara Cameron. 2002. "A Sociolinguistic Survey of the Dhimba Language." In SIL Electronic Survey Reports, 2002-070: Online: http://www.sil.org/silesr/abstract.asp?ref=2002-070.
Vulnerable
60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
30,000–35,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Transmission
Transmission -1
All members of the community, including children, speak the language.
-1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"A high proportion of Dhimbas in all sample groups [do not] understand Herero or Ndonga (minimum 75%% intelligibility)"
Location and Context
Countries
Namibia, Angola
Location Description
"In Namibia the Dhimba people live in the Opuwo District of the Kunene Region and in the northwestern corner of the Omusati Region. The Kunene Region comprises what is often still called 'Kaokoland.'"
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Herero, Ndonga
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
Link to a CNN article about the Himba.
BBC News Online looks at the impact the Aids/HIV virus is having on one isolated community in Namibi