Kimîîru

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
mer
Alternate Names
Kimeru, Mero, Meru
Autonym
Kimîîru
User Population

1,980,000 (2019 census), increasing, based on ethnicity.

Location

Isiolo and Meru counties: northeast of Mount Kenya; Laikipia county: Ewaso Ngiro river north bank.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.53)
Dialects

Meru (Beik), Igembe, Tigania, Imenti, Miutini, Igoji. Lexical similarity: 85% with dialects Imenti and Tigania, 67% with Chuka [cuh], 63% with Embu [ebu] and Gikuyu [kik], 57% with Kamba [kam].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh], Kiembu [ebu], Kitharaka [thk], Mwimbi-Muthambi [mws].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Literature. Radio. Videos. Bible: 1964–2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kimîîru
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

‘Mero’ is not a correct spelling. Different from Meru [rwk] of Tanzania. Traditional religion, Christian.