EWE ISO 639-3
Éwé
Èʋegbe (Èwegbe) Autonym
A language of Ghana
- ISO 639
- ewe
- Alternate Names
- Ebwe, Efe, Eibe, Eue, Eve, Gbe, Krepe, Krepi, Popo, Vhe
- Autonym
- Èʋegbe (Èwegbe)
- Population
- 3,820,000 in Ghana, all users. L1 users: 3,320,000 in Ghana (2013 UNSD), increasing. L2 users: 500,000. Total users in all countries: 5,525,320 (as L1: 5,025,320; as L2: 500,000).
- Location:
- Eastern region: Askuma town area, west of Lake Volta; Greater Accra region: easternmost; Volta region: easternmost.
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (1951, Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44).
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe
- Dialects
- Anglo (Anlo), Awuna, Hudu, Kotafoa. Westernmost language of the Gbe language subgroup.
- Typology
- SVO; postpositions; noun head initial; no articles; no passives; tense and aspect; comparatives; 26 consonant and 12 vowel phonemes; tonal (3 phonemic tones: high, mid, low); verb serialization; whistle speech reported.
- Language Use
- Vigorous. All domains. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Akposo [kpo], Avatime [avn], Logba [lgq], Nawdm [nmz], Nkonya [nko], Nyangbo [nyb], Sekpele [lip], Selee [snw], Tafi [tcd], Tuwuli [bov].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1911–2011.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Éwé
- Writing
- Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], used since 1850s, primary usage.
- Other Comments
- Christian, traditional religion.
Also Spoken in
- Language Status
- Unestablished
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Liberia
Language Name
Éwé
User Population
3,560 in Liberia (2020).
- Location
- Widespread. Maritime and Plateaux regions: south of Atakpamé. Kpalimé, Notsé, and Tsévié are main centers.
- Dialects
- Adan, Agu, Anglo (Anlo, Awlan), Aveno, Be, Gbin, Ho, Kpelen, Togo, Vlin, Vo.
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication)
- Other Comments
- Christian, traditional religion. View other languages of Togo
Language Name
Éwé
User Population
1,700,000 in Togo (2019).
Map
Location: Eastern region: Askuma town area, west of Lake Volta; Greater Accra region: easternmost; Volta region: easternmost.
Size and Vitality
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