Lyélé

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A language of Burkina Faso

ISO 639-3
lee
Alternate Names
Gurunsi, Lela, Lele, Lyela, Lyele, Lyæ̀læ
Autonym
Lyélé
User Population

213,000 (2009 UNSD).

Location

Boucle du Mouhoun region: Nayala province; Centre-Ouest region: Boulkiende province; north and central Sanguie province, Dassa, Didyr, Godyr, Kordie, Kyon, Réo, and Tenado subdistricts, Réo principal center; Nord region: Passore province.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

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

Southern Lyélé (Reo), Central Lyélé, Northern Lyélé, Kandéré. Most Central and Northern Lyélé speakers have nearly 100% comprehension of Southern Lyélé dialect. Kandéré have 75% comprehension of Southern Lyélé; Southern Lyélé understand all dialects except Kandéré well. Reportedly similar to Nuni [nuv], but low mutual inherent intelligibility.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix, 2 suffix; word order distinguishes subject and object; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVV; tonal.

Language Use

Some young people, all adults. About 50% age 15 or under. Also use French [fra]. Also use Jula [dyu]. Also use Mòoré [mos]. Used as L2 by Northern Nuni [nuv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Literacy rate in L2: 18% mainly in French [fra], some in Mòoré [mos]. Taught as subject in some primary schools through grade 3 or grade 5. NT: 2001.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lyélé
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.