Page Type: languageLiberian English | Ethnologue

LIR ISO 639-3

Liberian English

A language of Liberia

ISO 639
lir
Alternate Names
Kolokwa, Liberian Pidgin English
Population
5,113,000, all users. L1 users: 113,000 (2015). L2 users: 5,000,000 (2021 J. Sheppard).
Location:
Widespread.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). Brought to Liberia in 1822 by first group of black American emigrants who settled in Providence Island, now Monrovia. Trade language and used in informal contexts. Gained usage with five varieties and spread throughout Liberia in the 19th century.
Classification
Pidgin, English based, Atlantic
Dialects
Kru Pidgin English. Regional dialects. The variation in Liberian English today is mostly dependent on the educational level of the speaker, whether the speaker is from a rural or urban area, and whether Liberian English is their first or second language (Hancock 1974a).
Language Use
Used as L2 by Bandi [bza], Barclayville Grebo [gry], Bassa [bsq], Central Grebo [grv], Dan [dnj], Dewoin [dee], Eastern Krahn [kqo], Gbii [ggb], Gboloo Grebo [gec], Glaro-Twabo [glr], Glio-Oubi [oub], Gola [gol], Klao [klu], Konyanka Maninka [mku], Kuwaa [blh], Liberia Kpelle [xpe], Loma [lom], Maan [mev], Manya [mzj], Mende [men], Northern Grebo [gbo], Sapo [krn], Southern Grebo [grj], Southern Kisi [kss], Tajuasohn [tja], Tepo Krumen [ted], Vai [vai], Western Krahn [krw].
Language Development
Radio.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Liberian English
Writing
Latin script [Latn], minimal usage.
Other Comments
As different from standard English as is Sierra Leone Krio [kri] repidginized from American Black English of the 1800s (Holm 1989).

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Widespread.