Kabiyè

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A language of Togo

ISO 639-3
kbp
Alternate Names
Cabrai, Cabrais, Kabre, Kabure, Kabye
Autonym
Kabɩyɛ, Kabɩyɛ Tɔm
User Population

975,000 in Togo (Gblem-Poidi and Kantchoa 2012). Total users in all countries: 990,600.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern
Dialects

Kewe, Kijang, Lama-Tissi, Boufale. Lexical similarity: 60% between Kabiye [kbp], Lama [las], Tem [kdh], and Lukpa [dop].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, market, neighborhood, church, non-formal education. Used by all. Also use Éwé [ewe]. Also use French [fra]. Also use Tem [kdh]. Used as L2 by Kpessi [kef], Lama [las], Lukpa [dop], Miyobe [soy], Nawdm [nmz].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–25%. Taught as subject in some secondary schools. Officially, Kabiyè is permitted to be the LOI for primary education, but this policy has never been fully implemented (2021 SIL). Newspapers. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1998.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kabiyè
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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