Ruwila

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639: rwl
Alternate Names: Kiruwila, Luwila, Luwira, Lwila, Lwira, Rwila, Waruwila
Population: 5,600 (2012 SIL).
Location:: Katavi region: Mlele district, Nsimbo and Urwila wards.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F
Dialects: None known. Similar to Bende [bdp], Konongo [kcz], and Tongwe [tny]. Lexical similarity: 80% with Konongo, 64% with Nyamwezi [nym] and Sukuma [suk], and 67% with Bende [bdp] and Tongwe [tny] (2012 SIL).
Language Use: Used by all. Many also use Konongo [kcz]. Some also use Nyamwezi [nym]. Also use Swahili [swh], but at least half of the children do not know Swahili [swh], the national language, when they start school.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Ruwila
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Intermarriage with Konongo [kcz] speakers and Bende [bdp] speakers.

Location: Katavi region: Mlele district, Nsimbo and Urwila wards.