Kpelle, Guinea

A language of Guinea

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Akpese, Gbese, Gerse, Gerze, Guerze, Kpele, Kpelese, Kpelesetina, Kperese, Kpese, Kpwessi, Northern Kpele, Pessa, Pessy

Population

460,000 (2012 V. Vydrin).

Location

Nzérékoré Region, southeast at Liberia border.

Language Status

5 (Developing). De facto language of national identity.

Classification

Dialects

Central Kpelle, Gbali, Heghe. Different enough from Kpelle [xpe] of Liberia to need separate materials. Lexical similarity: 52%–67% with Kono [knu].

Language Development

Was taught in school under the 1st Republic (before 1984). Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2008.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script.

Other Comments

’Guerze’ is the French name. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.