Ruwila

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A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
rwl
Alternate Names
Kiruwila, Luwila, Luwira, Lwila, Lwira, Rwila, Waruwila
User Population

5,600 (2012 SIL).

Location

Katavi region: Mlele district, Nsimbo and Urwila wards.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F
Dialects

None known. Similar to Bende [bdp], Konongo [kcz], and Tongwe [tny]. Lexical similarity: 80% with Konongo, 64% with Nyamwezi [nym] and Sukuma [suk], and 67% with Bende [bdp] and Tongwe [tny] (2012 SIL).

Language Use

Used by all. Many also use Konongo [kcz]. Some also use Nyamwezi [nym]. Also use Swahili [swh], but at least half of the children do not know Swahili [swh], the national language, when they start school.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ruwila
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Intermarriage with Konongo [kcz] speakers and Bende [bdp] speakers.