Kimîîru | Ethnologue

A language of Kenya

ISO 639: mer
Alternate Names: Kimeru, Mero, Meru
Autonym: Kimîîru
Population: 1,980,000 (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity.
Location:: Isiolo and Meru counties: northeast of Mount Kenya; Laikipia county: Ewaso Ngiro river north bank.
Language Status: 4 (Educational).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.53)
Dialects: Meru (Beik), Igembe, Tigania, Imenti, Miutini, Igoji. Lexical similarity: 85% with dialects Imenti and Tigania, 67% with Chuka [cuh], 63% with Embu [ebu] and Gikuyu [kik], 57% with Kamba [kam].
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh], Kiembu [ebu], Kitharaka [thk], Mwimbi-Muthambi [mws].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Videos. Bible: 1964–2011.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kimîîru
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: ‘Mero’ is not a correct spelling. Different from Meru [rwk] of Tanzania. Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Isiolo and Meru counties: northeast of Mount Kenya; Laikipia county: Ewaso Ngiro river north bank.