The Malagasy language is the national language of Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa. It belongs to the Austronesian language family, which is primarily spoken in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Malagasy has several dialects, with the Merina dialect being the most widely used in official contexts and education. Malagasy is unique among African languages due to its Austronesian roots, which link it to languages spoken in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. The language uses a Latin-based alphabet and has a rich oral tradition, including proverbs, songs, and stories that reflect the culture and history of the Malagasy people.