Liberian English
PrintPrimary tabs
A language of Liberia
5,113,000, all users. L1 users: 113,000 (2015). L2 users: 5,000,000 (2021 J. Sheppard).
Widespread.
3 (Wider communication). Brought to Liberia in 1822 by first group of black American emigrants who settled in Providence Island, now Monrovia. Trade language and used in informal contexts. Gained usage with five varieties and spread throughout Liberia in the 19th century.
Kru Pidgin English. Regional dialects. The variation in Liberian English today is mostly dependent on the educational level of the speaker, whether the speaker is from a rural or urban area, and whether Liberian English is their first or second language (Hancock 1974a).
Used as L2 by Bandi [bza], Barclayville Grebo [gry], Bassa [bsq], Central Grebo [grv], Dan [dnj], Dewoin [dee], Eastern Krahn [kqo], Gbii [ggb], Gboloo Grebo [gec], Glaro-Twabo [glr], Glio-Oubi [oub], Gola [gol], Klao [klu], Konyanka Maninka [mku], Kuwaa [blh], Liberia Kpelle [xpe], Loma [lom], Maan [mev], Manya [mzj], Mende [men], Northern Grebo [gbo], Sapo [krn], Southern Grebo [grj], Southern Kisi [kss], Tajuasohn [tja], Tepo Krumen [ted], Vai [vai], Western Krahn [krw].
Radio.
As different from standard English as is Sierra Leone Krio [kri] repidginized from American Black English of the 1800s (Holm 1989).