Isanzu is a
Bantu language spoken by the
Isanzu people The Isanzu (Anyihanzu) are a Bantu ethno-linguistic group based in Mkalama, Singida, Tanzania. In 1987 the Isanzu population was estimated to number 32,40 The Isanzu have matrilineal descent groups and are agriculturalists who subsist on sorghum, ...
south of
Lake Eyasi
Lake Eyasi (formerly german: Njarasasee, "Njarasa Lake", and ''Hohenlohesee'', "Hohenlohe Lake") is a lake located in Karatu District of Arusha Region in north Tanzania. Lake Eyasi is the largest body of water in Arusha region. It is a seasonal ...
in
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
.
The position of Isanzu within the Bantu family is uncertain. It is rather distinct in certain features from other Bantu languages of the area, such as
Nyaturu, but is quite close in others. One easily recognizable feature is /h/ in words where neighboring languages have /s/ or /tʃ/, as in the name Isanzu ~ ''Ihanzu'', a feature it shares with
Iramba, and a reason it is commonly classified with Iramba.
References
Northeast Bantu languages
Languages of Tanzania
{{Bantu-lang-stub