Gbe, Saxwe

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A language of Benin

ISO 639-3
sxw
Alternate Names
Sahouè, Sahouègbe, Saxwɛ, Saxwe, Saxwe-Gbe, Saxwegbe, Tsaphe, Tsaphe -Gbe, Tsáphɛ
Autonym
Saxwɛgbe
User Population

284,000 (2018).

Location

Atlantique department: Kpomasse commune; Coufou department: Lalo commune; Mono department: Bopa and Houéyogbé communes.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe
Dialects

Saxwe, Daxe, Se.

Typology

SVO; no noun classes or gender; question words initial; minimal affixing; 12 vowel phonemes; no case marking (except pronouns); tonal.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Most also use Fon [fon]. Most also use Gen [gej]. Some also use Aja [ajg]. Some also use Ayizo Gbe [ayb]. Some also use Kotafon Gbe [kqk]. Also use French [fra], to extents varying with education level. Used as L2 by Ayizo Gbe [ayb], Gbesi Gbe [gbs], Kotafon Gbe [kqk], Xwela Gbe [xwe].

Language Development

Literature. Periodicals. Radio. Bible portions: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gbe, Saxwe
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.