Mbelime

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A language of Benin

ISO 639-3
mql
Alternate Names
Bebelibe, Bèbèdibè, Mbilme, Mbèlimè, Oubièlo, Ubielo, “M’Bermè” (pej.), “Niende” (pej.), “Niendi” (pej.), “Niendé” (pej.), “Nyende” (pej.)
User Population

37,600 in Benin (Tchegnon and Guidibi 2006), increasing. Total users in all countries: 39,900.

Location

Atacora department: Boukoumbé commune, Dipoli and Korontière subdivisions, 5 villages; Cobly commune, Cobly, Datori, Kountori, and Tapoga subdivisions, 26 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern
Typology

SVO; 15 noun classes; tonal; 14 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes, 7 long vowels, 5 diphthongs.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Ditammari [tbz]. Also use French [fra].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mbelime
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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