Vwanji

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A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
wbi
Alternate Names
Bavwanji, Kivwanji, Kiwanji, Wanji
Autonym
Kɨvwanji
User Population

41,800 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Location

Njombe region: Makete district, Kipengere mountain range.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Bena-Kinga (G.66)
Typology

SVO; Prepositions; Noun Head Initial; Noun classes; Verbal affixation for subject, object, tense, aspect, mood and derivation; 25 consonant phonemes; 14 vowel phonemes, 7 qualities; tonal.

Language Use

Adolescents prefer Swahili [swh]. Those who stay in the area often go back to Vwanji when they get older. Private domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Very low. SIL has transition literacy work (Swahili to Vwanji); some pre-school basic literacy classes. Literature. NT: 2019.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Vwanji
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.