Krio

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A language of Sierra Leone

ISO 639-3
kri
Alternate Names
Creole, Patois
Autonym
Krio
User Population

8,200,000 in Sierra Leone, all users. L1 users: 780,000 in Sierra Leone (2019). L2 users: 7,420,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 8,237,900 (as L1: 817,900; as L2: 7,420,000).

Location

Western Area: Freetown peninsula communities; south of Freetown, York and Banana islands.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Brought to western part of Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1787 by early settlers from England. Used as trade language and for social interaction among all sixteen ethnic groups in Sierra Leone.

Classification
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
Dialects

Aku. Krio and Jamaican Creole [jam], and Krio and Sea Islands Creole [gul] may have some interintelligibility. Linguistic influence from Yoruba [yor] (Hancock 1987).

Language Use

Vigorous. More in provincial towns than villages, and for interethnic communication. Possibly half use Krio at work. Formal language for those who do not speak English [eng]. All domains, education. Used by all. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Mende [men], Northern Kissi [kqs], Susu [sus], Themne [tem], Yalunka [yal].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Less than 15% in English [eng]. Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Taught as subject in secondary schools in grades 7–9. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2013.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Krio
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

L1 Krio speakers mainly descendants of repatriated slaves from Jamaica. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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