Kpelle, Liberia

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A language of Liberia

ISO 639-3
xpe
Alternate Names
Gbese, Kpele, Kpese, Kpwessi, Pessa, Pessy
Autonym
Kpɛlɛwoo
User Population

867,000 (2020).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle
Dialects

Nyawokole, Fuama, Boopolu. Dialect differences slight. Different from Kpelle [gkp] of Guinea. A member of macrolanguage Kpelle [kpe].

Language Use

Also use Liberian English [lir]. Used as L2 by Kuwaa [blh].

Language Development

Taught in primary schools as subject. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kpelle, Liberia
Writing

Kpelle script [Kpel], limited usage except for correspondence. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Largest group in Liberia. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.