Éwé

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A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3
ewe
Alternate Names
Ebwe, Efe, Eibe, Eue, Eve, Gbe, Krepe, Krepi, Popo, Vhe
Autonym
Èʋegbe‎ (Èwegbe)
User Population

3,820,000 in Ghana, all users. L1 users: 3,320,000 in Ghana (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 500,000. Total users in all countries: 5,525,320 (as L1: 5,025,320; as L2: 500,000).

Location

Eastern region: Askuma town area, west of Lake Volta; Greater Accra region: easternmost; Volta region: easternmost.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (1951, Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe
Dialects

Anglo (Anlo), Awuna, Hudu, Kotafoa. Westernmost language of the Gbe language subgroup.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; noun head initial; no articles; no passives; tense and aspect; comparatives; 26 consonant and 12 vowel phonemes; tonal (3 phonemic tones: high, mid, low); verb serialization; whistle speech reported.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Akposo [kpo], Avatime [avn], Logba [lgq], Nawdm [nmz], Nkonya [nko], Nyangbo [nyb], Sekpele [lip], Selee [snw], Tafi [tcd], Tuwuli [bov].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 3 and as subject thereafter. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1911–2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Éwé
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], used since 1850s, primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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