Vwanji | Ethnologue

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639: wbi
Alternate Names: Bavwanji, Kivwanji, Kiwanji, Wanji
Autonym: Kɨvwanji
Population: 41,800 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).
Location:: Njombe region: Makete district, Kipengere mountain range.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Bena-Kinga (G.66)
Typology: SVO; Prepositions; Noun Head Initial; Noun classes; Verbal affixation for subject, object, tense, aspect, mood and derivation; 25 consonant phonemes; 14 vowel phonemes, 7 qualities; tonal.
Language Use: Adolescents prefer Swahili [swh]. Those who stay in the area often go back to Vwanji when they get older. Private domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Very low. SIL has transition literacy work (Swahili to Vwanji); some pre-school basic literacy classes. Literature. NT: 2019.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Vwanji
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Njombe region: Makete district, Kipengere mountain range.