Malagasy
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Language Information
It would be logical to assume that Malagasy belongs to one or another of the African language families but this is not the case. Investigation has established it as one of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, the rest of which are spoken thousands of miles to the east, in Southeast Asia and on islands in the Pacific. It is now believed that the inhabitants of Madagascar are descendants of settlers from present-day Indonesia (perhaps the island of Borneo), who arrived between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago.
Malagasy contains some words of Bantu, Arab, French, and English origin. It has a soft, musical quality somewhat reminiscent of Italian.
Malagasy is spoken/used in the following countries:
- Language Family
- Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian)
- Subgroup
- Austronesian
- Branch
- Indonesian
Malagasy Language Sample
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1
Malagasy, Plateau
Teraka afaka sy mitovy zo sy fahamendrehana ny olombelona rehetra. Samy manan-tsaina sy fieritreretana ka tokony hifampitondra am- pirahalahiana.English translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Source: OHCHR translations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights