Themne
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A language of Sierra Leone
2,070,000, all users. L1 users: 1,830,000 (2019). L2 users: 240,000 (1981 D. Cranmer).
Northern province: Bombali, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts; west of Sewa river to Little Scarcie; Southern province: northwest Moyamba district; Western Area: Rural district.
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Northern province (3 districts), Southern province and Western Area (1 district each) (2004, Local Government Act, Article 16(1)).
Banta, Konike, Yoni, Bombali, Western Temne (Pil), Sanda, Ribia, Kholifa, Koya, Masingbi, Malal. People claim to understand all dialects. Banta dialect is most likely extinct (Sommer 1992). Lexical similarity: 74% with Masingbi and Malal dialects, 70% with Konike dialect and western varieties.
Literacy rate in L2: 6%. Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Taught as subject in secondary schools in grades 7–9. NT: 1868–1992.
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.