Biali

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A language of Benin

ISO 639-3
beh
Alternate Names
Berba, Bieri, Bjerb, Bjeri, Byali
Population

100,000 in Benin (2002). Population total all countries: 101,500.

Location

Atakora Department, Materi, Tanguieta, and Cobly communes; Borgou Department, Ouessi commune. Also in Burkina Faso.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern
Dialects

Dassari, Gouande, Materi, Pingou, Porga, Tangeta, Tihoun.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; 14 noun classes; verbal system based on aspect, not tense; tonal

Language Use

Some also use French [fra].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 15–20% French. Radio programs. Bible portions: 2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Biali
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Glossonym: Biali or Bieri. Ethnonym: Bialaba. Berba is the French name. Historical accounts claim they originated in the F’ada N’Gourma area of Burkina Faso. Different from Baatonum (Bariba) [bba]. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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