Kimîîru

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
mer
Alternate Names
Kimeru, Meru
Population

1,658,000 (2009 census), increasing.

Location

Eastern Province, Meru district, northeast of Mt. Kenya.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.53)
Dialects

Igembe, Igoji, Imenti, Meru (Beik), Miutini, Tigania. Lexical similarity: 85% with dialects Imenti and Tigania, 67% with Chuka [cuh], 63% with Embu [ebu] and Gikuyu [kik], 57% with Kamba [kam].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Kiswahili [swh], English [eng], or Kiembu [ebu].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Radio programs. Films. Bible: 1964.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kimîîru
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

‘Mero’ is not a correct spelling. Different from Meru [rwk] of Tanzania. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.