Tandroy dialect

Last updated
Tandroy
Southern Malagasic group.jpg
Native to
Region Androy
Ethnicity Antandroy people
Native speakers
1,442,000 [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 tdx
Glottolog tand1256
Linguasphere 31-LDA-ca

Tandroy (also called Antandroy or Ntandroy) is a dialect of the Malagasy language spoken primarily by the Antandroy people in the Androy region of southern Madagascar. It is close to Mahafaly and Karimbola, the latter being considered a dialect of Tandroy.

Contents

Classification

Tandroy is part of the Austronesian languages family, within the Malayo-Polynesian languages branch. It falls under the Barito languages group and is classified specifically as a member of the Southern Malagasic subgroup of Malagasy dialects, alongside Karimbola, Vezo, Masikoro, Southern Sakalava and Mahafaly. [2]

Geographic distribution

The Tandroy dialect is spoken mainly in the Androy region, the southernmost part of Madagascar, by approximately 1,442,000 people (as of 2025). It is also spoken by the Antandroy diaspora in Bongolava and northern regions of Madagascar. [3]

History

Tandroy is among the Malagasy dialects documented in the early 18th century. It is the dialect that Robert Drury (sailor), an English sailor, learned after being shipwrecked in the Androy region in 1702, where he lived as a slave until his escape. Drury fled northward through Fiherenana and later reached Menabe, from where he eventually sailed back to England in 1717. All of these regions spoke dialects closely related to Tandroy, which helped him communicate throughout his journey. His memoir includes a very valuable list of over 500 Malagasy words, believed to reflect the Tandroy dialect and other southern varieties. [4]

Vocabulary

Tandroy Vocabulary Table with Standard Malagasy and Gloss
#GlossTandroyStandard Malagasy
Family
1Wife / HusbandValyVady
Pronouns
2I / MeRaho / ZahoIzaho
3You (singular)Rehe / Riha / IheIanao
4HeReke / IheIzy
5WeTika / Tikagne / ZahayIsika / Izahay
6You (plural)Nahareo / Nareo / InahareoIanareo
7TheyIereo / IareoZareo
Qualities & Descriptions
8Good / BeautifulSoaTsara
9OnlyAvaoIhany
10TabooFalyFady
Conditionals & Connectors
11IfLeheRaha
Actions & Verbs
12To shootMitifitseMitifitra
13To enterMilitseMiditra
14To exitMiakatseMivoaka
15To followMagnorikeManaraka
Directions
16SouthAntimoAtsimo

Some Tandroy proverbs

Tandroy proverbMerina proverbEnglish translation
Ana-tsiriry tsy toroan-dagnoZanak'omby tsy ampianarin-domanoA calf is not taught by the tail of another calf
Faly lambo i Tsipioke, tsy homagne ty vente'e faie midrofotse ty ro'eMihambo ho tsy tia vary mohaka nefa miletra sosoa be ranoProud to dislike rice but always licking the broth
Tandriondriono maola mahazo ty marentaneTsingeringerin'ankizy ka ny lehibe avy no faninaChildren quarrel, but the eldest wins
Tsy to rehake ty tsy manam-bangovangoIzay manan-tsira mahay mahandroWhoever has spice knows how to cook
Tsy mote ty havelo hamonje ze miroroAza manao ariary zato am-pandrianaDon’t put a hundred ariary on the bed
Nahalavamoko i akanga y o, o fitaoagne oNy mahery tsy maody tsy ela velonaThe strong who does not yield will not live long

References

  1. "Antandroy in Madagascar". Joshua Project. Retrieved 28 June 2025. Population 1,442,000; Christianity 35%, Evangelical 12%
  2. Bright, William (1992). International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. p. 205. ISBN   9780195051964.
  3. Molet, Louis (1957). Petit guide de toponymie malgache (PDF) (in French). Tananarive: Scientific Research Institute of Madagascar, Department of Human Sciences. pp. map (unnumbered) + p. 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) The map is placed before the numbered pages.
  4. Drury, Robert (1841). Missionary Vocabulary in the Language of Androy, Madagascar. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. p. 284.