Page Type: languageThemne | Ethnologue

TEM ISO 639-3

Themne

Themne Autonym

A language of Sierra Leone

ISO 639
tem
Alternate Names
Temen, Temne, Timene, Timmannee, Timne
Autonym
Themne
Population
2,070,000, all users. L1 users: 1,830,000 (2019). L2 users: 240,000 (1981 D. Cranmer).
Location:
Northern province: Bombali, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts; west of Sewa river to Little Scarcie; Southern province: northwest Moyamba district; Western Area: Rural district.
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Northern province (3 districts), Southern province and Western Area (1 district each) (2004, Local Government Act, Article 16(1)).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Temne-Banta
Dialects
Banta, Konike, Yoni, Bombali, Western Temne (Pil), Sanda, Ribia, Kholifa, Koya, Masingbi, Malal. People claim to understand all dialects. Banta dialect is most likely extinct (Sommer 1992). Lexical similarity: 74% with Masingbi and Malal dialects, 70% with Konike dialect and western varieties.
Language Use
Primary language of central Sierra Leone. Also use English [eng]. Also use Krio [kri]. Used as L2 by Bullom So [buy].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 6%. Taught as an elective from primary to college level. NT: 1868–1992.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Themne
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Northern province: Bombali, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts; west of Sewa river to Little Scarcie; Southern province: northwest Moyamba district; Western Area: Rural district.