Malila

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A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
mgq
Alternate Names
Bamalila, Ishimalilia, Kimalila, Malilia, Shimalilia
Autonym
Shɨmalɨla
User Population

78,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Location

Mbeya region: Mbeya Rural district, 40 km southwest of Mbeya town.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Nyiha-Safwa (M.24)
Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; noun classes; verbal affixation for subject, object, tense, aspect, mood and derivation; 36 consonant phonemes; 14 vowel phonemes; tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous. Other language speakers moving into the area learn Malila. Most domains including church and politics. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Swahili [swh].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Low. SIL has transition literacy work (Swahili to Malila), and some pre-school basic literacy classes. Literature. NT: 2020.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Malila
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Little intermarriage. Christian.