Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM Net): Resources, Dictionaries, Descriptions of languages

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Descriptions of languages

Introduction

This Page contains background information on linguistics and other aspects of the languages that are included in Category Dictionaries. If not otherwise stated, the information available on this page comes from the Ethnologue.com Web site, and is based on the ISO 639.2 standard.

Content

Akposo: Country: Togo. Population: 94,900. Region: West of Atakpamé in southern Togo. The main centers are Amlamé. Amou-Oblo, Atakpami. SIL code: KPO. ISO 639-2 code: nic. Alternate names: Kposo, Ikposo, Akposso. Dialects: Amou oblou, Ikponu, Iwi (Uwi), Litime (Badou), Logbo, Uma. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Kopso-Ahlo-Bowili. Comments: Two dialects. Somewhat bilingual in Ewe or French. Literacy rate in first language: 1-5%. Also spoken in Ghana (see below).; Other countries: Ghana. Language name: Akposo. Population: 5,400. Alternate names: Akposso, Ikposo, Kposo. Dialects: Amou oblou, Ikponu, Iwi (Uwi), Litime (Badou), Logbo, Uma. Comments: Somewhat bilingual in Ewe. Literacy rate in first language: below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 5-15%.
Arabic: Region: Spoken in more than 20 countries in Central Asia, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Middle East. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South. Comments: SIL and ISO 639-2 codes not available. See individual Arabic languages listed on this page.
English: Country: United Kingdom. Population: 55,000,000. All countries: 341,000,000 (incl. second language speakers: 508,000,000). Region: Also spoken in 104 countries in Africa, Europe, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, the Pacific, South Asia, and South East Asia. SIL code: ENG. ISO 639-2 code: eng. Dialects: Numerous. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English. Comments: ?.
Éwé: Country: Ghana. Population: 1,615,700. Region: Southeast. Also spoken in Togo (see below). SIL code: EWE. ISO 639-2 code: ewe. Alternate names: Ebwe, Efe, Eibe, Eue, Eve, Gbe, Krepe, Krepi, Popo, Vhe. Dialects: Anglo, Awuna, Hudu, Kotafoa. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Comments: Language of wider communications. Literacy rates: first language - 30-60 percent, second language - 75-100 percent.; Other countries: Togo. Language name: Éwé. Population: 861,900. Alternate names: Eibe, Ehwe, Eve, Krepe, Krepi, Popo, Vhe. Dialects: Anglo, Awuna, Hudu, Kotafon. Comments: Bilingualism in French. Prominant language in southern Togo, national language. Literacy rate in first language: 10-60 percent.
French: Country: France. Population: 51,000,000. All counties: 77,000,000 (incl. second-language speakers: 128,000,000). Region: Also spoken in 53 other countries in Africa, Europe, North Africa, the Pacific, and South America. SIL code: FRN. ISO 639-2 code: fre. Dialects: Numerous. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French. Comments: ?.
Hassanya: Country: Mauritania. Population: 2,200,00. Region: Throughout the country. Also spoken in Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal (see below). SIL code: MEY. ISO 639-2 code: sem. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. Comments: Not intelligible with other Arabic varieties. Speakers are called 'Maures' ('Moors').; Other countries: Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal. Population: Algeria: ?; Mali: 106,100; Morocco: 40,000; Niger: 10,000; Senegal: ?. Comments: ?.
Italian: Country: Italy. Population: 62,000,000. Region: ?. Also spoken in 29 other countries (see below). SIL code: ITN. ISO 639-2 code: ita. Alternate names: Italiano. Dialects: Abruzzese, Central Marchigiano, Cicolano-Reatino-Aquilano, Molilsano, Laziale, Pugliese, Tuscan, Umbrian. Classification: Into-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian. Comments: ?.; Other countries: Croatia, Eritrea, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican State.. Language name: ?. Population: ?. Alternate names: ?. Dialects: ?. Comments: ?.
Portuguese: Country: Portuguese. Population: 10,000,000. All countries: 176,000,000 (incl. second language speakers: 191,000,000). Region: Iberia, Azores, Madeira. Also spoken in 33 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and South Asia. SIL code: POR. ISO 639-2 code: por. Dialects: Beira, Brazilian Portuguese, Estremenho, Galician, Madeira-Azores. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician. Comments: ?.
Setswana: Country: Botswana. Population: 1,070,000. All countries: 4,000,000. Region: Throughout the country, as lingua franca, and in a limited area as mother tongue. Also spoken in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. SIL code: TSW. ISO 639-2 code: tsn. Alternate names: Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tswana. Dialects: Tlahaping (Tlapi), Rolong, Kwena, Kgatla, Ngwatu (Ngwato), Tawana, Lete, Ngwaketse, Tlokwa. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana, Tswana. Comments: Used more for spoken than written purposes. All ages. Vigorous use. 90-95 percent of children complete standard 7 in primary school. National language. Literacy rate in first language: 80 percent.; Other countries: Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Language name: ?. Population: Namibia: 6,050; South Africa: 2,822,000; Zimbabwe: 29,350. Alternate names: South Africa: Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tsiwaha; Zimbabwe: Beetjuans, Chuana, Chwana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana, Tshwana. Dialects: Namibia: Tlhaping, Tlharo, Tawana; South Africa: Hurutshe, Kgatla, Kwena, Melete, Ngwaketse, Ngwato, Rolong, Tawana, Thlaping (Tlapi), Thlaro, Tlokwa; Zimbabwe: Ngwatu (Mangwato, Tlhaping. Comments: ?.
Spanish: Country: Spanish. Population: 28,173,600. Region: Central and southern Spain and the Canary Islands. Also spoken in 43 other countries in Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, North America, and South America. SIL code: SPN. ISO 639-2 code: spa. Alternate names: Castellano, Castilian, Espanol. Dialects: American Spanish, Andalusian, Aragonese, Canary Islands Spanish, Castilian, Murcian, Navarrese. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian. Comments: ?.