Krio

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A language of Sierra Leone

ISO 639-3
kri
Alternate Names
Creole, Patois
Population

473,000 in Sierra Leone (1993). Population total all countries: 495,600.

Location

Freetown communities; on the peninsula; Banana islands, York Island; Bonthe. Also in Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
Dialects

Aku. Krio and Jamaican Creole [jam], and Krio and Sea Islands Creole [gul] may have some interintelligibility. Linguistic influence from Yoruba [yor] (I. Hancock 1987).

Language Use

Vigorous. More in provincial towns than villages, and for interethnic communication. Possibly half use Krio at work. Formal language for those who do not speak English. L2 users prefer indigenous languages for informal situations. Possibly 4,000,000 L2 users (1987 F. Jones). All domains, education. All ages.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Less than 15% in English. Taught as an elective from primary to college level. NT: 1986–1992.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Krio
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

L1 Krio speakers mainly descendants of repatriated slaves from Jamaica. Traditional religion, Christian.