Nawdm

Primary tabs

A language of Togo

ISO 639-3

nmz

Alternate Names

Losso, Losu, Naoudem, Naudm, Nawdam

Autonym

Nawdm

User Population

146,000 in Togo (2012 SIL). 7,300 monolinguals.

Location

Centrale region: Sotouboua and Tchamba prefectures; Kara region: Bassar and Doufelgou prefectures, Niamtougou area; Plateaux region: Amou, Est-Mono, Haho, and Wawa prefectures; many in Lomé.

Language Maps

Togo

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Yom-Nawdm

Dialects

West Nawdm (Baga, Koka, Niamtougou), East Nawdm (Siou Canton), Central Nawdm (Bana’, Tenega). Reportedly similar to Yom [pil].

Typology

SVO; postpositions; noun head initial; 13 noun classes; verbal system based on aspect, not tense; 24 consonant phonemes; 7 vowel phonemes; tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous, but codeswitching with French occurs. All domains except at school. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Éwé [ewe]. Also use French [fra]. Also use Kabiyè [kbp]. Also use Lama [las].

Language Development

Interest in L1 literacy very low, but higher outside the homeland (2021 SIL). Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 2013.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Nawdm

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Exonym: Losso. L1 speakers may use this term with outsiders. Traditional religion, Christian.