Makwe

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A language of Mozambique

ISO 639-3
ymk
Alternate Names
Kimakwe, Macue, Palma
User Population

50,000 in Mozambique (2017). Total users in all countries: 147,700.

Location

Cabo Delgado province: coast, Tanzania border area south to Quionga and Palma; Ruvuma river area to Pundanhar.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.402)
Dialects

Coastal Makwe (Palma), Interior Makwe. Not inherently intelligible with Swahili [swh]. Lexical similarity: 60% with Swahili [swh], 57% with Mwani [wmw], 48% with Yao [yao].

Language Use

Some also use Mwani [wmw], especially men. Some also use Portuguese [por], especially those with schooling, for reading. Some also use Swahili [swh], especially men. Those with schooling can read Swahili. Also use Makonde [kde].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 20%. Motivation for literacy is high. Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Makwe
Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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