Editing Comorian languages (section)

{{Short description|Bantu language group of the Comoro Islands}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Comorian
| nativename       = {{lang|mul|shikomori}}'<br>{{Script|Arab|شِكُمُرِ / شیكهمهری}}<ref name="lafon"/>
| states           = [[Comoros]] and [[Mayotte]]
| region           = Throughout [[Comoros]] and [[Mayotte]]; also in [[Madagascar]] and [[Réunion]]
| speakers         = {{sigfig|790,000|1}} in Comoros
| date             = 2011
| ref              = <ref>{{cite web |title=Udzima wa Komori |url=http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/comores.htm |publisher=Université Laval, 2325, rue de l'Université |access-date=4 December 2018 |archive-date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304065836/http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/comores.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| speakers2        = {{sigfig|253,700|1}} in Mayotte (2007)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ac-mayotte.fr/IMG/pdf/Interv_BARRETEAU_CM2.pdf |title=Premiers résultats d'une enquête sociolinguistique auprès des élèves de CM2 de Mayotte |author=Daniel Barreteau |access-date=2007-05-17 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614075940/http://www.ac-mayotte.fr/IMG/pdf/Interv_BARRETEAU_CM2.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Population of Mayotte |url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3284395 |publisher=INSEE |access-date=2018-12-04 |archive-date=2019-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403070726/https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3284395 |url-status=live }}</ref><!--98% of the 256518 inhabitants of Mayotte have one of the Comorian dialects as their native language --><!--data only supports to nearest 100,000-->
| script           = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]<br />[[Latin script|Latin]]
| nation           = {{flag|Comoros}}
| familycolor      = Niger-Congo
| fam2             = [[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]]
| fam3             = [[Volta-Congo]]
| fam4             = [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]]
| fam5             = [[Bantoid]]
| fam6             = [[Southern Bantoid languages|Southern Bantoid]]
| fam7             = [[Bantu languages|Bantu]]
| fam8             = [[Northeast Coast Bantu languages|Northeast Coast Bantu]]
| fam9             = [[Sabaki languages|Sabaki]]
|dia1 = [[Maore dialect|Maore]]
| lc1              = zdj
| ld1              = Ngazidja dialect
| lc2              = wni
| ld2              = Ndzwani (Anjouani) dialect
| lc3              = swb
| ld3              = [[Maore dialect]]
| lc4              = wlc
| ld4              = Mwali dialect
| guthrie          = G.44
| glotto           = como1260
| glottorefname    = Comorian Bantu
}}

'''Comorian''' (''Shikomori'', or ''Shimasiwa'', the "language of islands") is the name given to a group of four [[Bantu language]]s spoken in the [[Comoro Islands]], an [[archipelago]] in the southwestern [[Indian Ocean]] between [[Mozambique]] and [[Madagascar]]. It is named as one of the official languages of the [[Union of the Comoros]] in the Comorian constitution. Shimaore, one of the languages, is spoken on the disputed island of [[Mayotte]], a [[departement of France|French department]] claimed by Comoros.

Like [[Swahili language|Swahili]], the Comorian languages are [[Sabaki languages]], part of the Bantu language family. Each island has its own language, and the four are conventionally divided into two groups: the eastern group is composed of ''[[Shindzuani]]'' (spoken on [[Anjouan|Ndzuani]]) and ''[[Shimaore dialect|Shimaore]]'' (Mayotte), while the western group is composed of ''[[Shimwali]]'' ([[Mohéli|Mwali]]) and ''[[Shingazija]]'' ([[Grande Comore|Ngazidja]]). Although the languages of different groups are not usually [[mutually intelligible]], only sharing about 80% of their lexicon, there is mutual intelligibility between the languages within each group, suggesting that Shikomori should be considered as two language groups, each including two languages, rather than four distinct languages.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Breslar |first1=Jon Haskell |date=1981 |title=An ethnography of the Mahorais (Mayotte Comoro Islands) |id={{ProQuest|303167533}} |oclc=9174567 }}{{pn|date=February 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ahmed-Chamanga |first=Mohamed |title=Le shiNdzuani |date=2010 |publisher=Komedit CNDRS Palashiyo |isbn=978-2-914564-74-8 |series=Introduction à la grammaire structurale du comorien |location=Moroni (Comores)}}</ref>

Historically, the language was written in the Arabic-based [[Ajami script]]. The [[French Comoros|French colonial administration]] introduced the [[Latin script]]. In 2009 the current independent government decreed a modified version of the Latin script for official use.<ref name=":0" /> Many Comorians now use the Latin script when writing the Comorian language although the Ajami script is still widely used, especially by women.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Recently, some scholars have suggested that the language may be on its way to endangerment, citing the unstable code-switching and numerous French words used in daily speech.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Alnet |first=Aimee Johansen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rLeU4S5CBt4C&dq=shimaore&pg=PR9 |title=The Clause Structure Of The Shimaore Dialect Of Comorian (Bantu) |date=2009 |publisher=Shimaore.net |language=en |access-date=2024-02-24 |archive-date=2024-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227155556/https://books.google.com/books?id=rLeU4S5CBt4C&dq=shimaore&pg=PR9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

It is the language of ''[[Udzima wa ya Masiwa|Umodja wa Masiwa]],'' the national anthem.