Kpelle, Guinea | Ethnologue

A language of Guinea

ISO 639: gkp
Alternate Names: Akpese, Gbese, Gerse, Gerze, Guerzé, Kpele, Kpelese, Kpelesetina, Kperese, Kpese, Kpwessi, Northern Kpele, Pessa, Pessy
Autonym: Kpɛlɛwoo
Population: 497,000 (2017 census).
Location:: Nzérékoré region: between Dondano and Nzebola towns.
Language Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle
Dialects: Central Kpelle, Gbali, Hege (Heghe). Different enough from Kpelle [xpe] of Liberia to need separate materials. Lexical similarity: 52%–67% with Kono [knu]. A member of macrolanguage Kpelle [kpe].
Language Use: Also use Eastern Maninkakan [emk].
Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Texts. Bible: 2008.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kpelle, Guinea
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: ‘Guerzé’ is the French name. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Location: Nzérékoré region: between Dondano and Nzebola towns.