Chiduruma

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
dug
Alternate Names
Duruma, “Wanyika” (pej.)
Population

397,000 (2009 census), increasing.

Location

Coast Province, West Kwale county, south of Mombasa to Tanzania border.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Nyika (E.72)
Dialects

9 ethnic groups form the Mijikenda community. Chiduruma is the second least similar to Kigiryama [nyf]. Comprehension of Kiswahili [swh] and Chidigo [dig] is low. Lexical similarity: 74% with Chidigo [dig], 66% with Kiswahili [swh].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Few use Swahili [swh] or Chidigo [dig].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 13%. Language attitudes toward Kigiryama indicate the need for separate Chiduruma literature. Poetry. Radio programs. Films. Videos. NT: 1999.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chiduruma
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Ethnonym: Duruma. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.