Kissi, Northern | Ethnologue

A language of Guinea

ISO 639: kqs
Alternate Names: Gizi, Kisie, Kissien, kìsìéí
Autonym: Kisi
Population: 509,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 570,500.
Location:: Faranah region: Kissidougou prefecture; Nzérékoré region: Gueckedou and western Macenta prefectures.
Language Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi
Dialects: Liaro, Kama, Teng, Tung. Reportedly similar to Sherbro [bun]. Southern Kissi [kss] of Liberia and Sierra Leone is different.
Language Use: Also use Eastern Maninkakan [emk]. Also use French [fra].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 10% in French [fra]. Literacy materials taught in school. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2010.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kissi, Northern
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Many loanwords from Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Traditional religion.

Sierra Leone

Location: Eastern province: Kono district, Guinea border and inland; Northern province: southeast corner, Koinadugu district.
Dialects: Liaro, Kama, Teng, Tung.
Language Status: 5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments: Different from Southern Kisi [kss]. Traditional religion.

Location: Faranah region: Kissidougou prefecture; Nzérékoré region: Gueckedou and western Macenta prefectures.