Makwe

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A language of Mozambique

ISO 639-3
ymk
Alternate Names
Kimakwe, Macue, Palma
Population

22,000 in Mozambique (2003). Population total all countries: 32,000.

Location

Cabo Delgado Province coast, Tanzania border south to Quionga, Palma, to just south of Olumbe; interior along Ruvuma river to Pundanhar. Also in Tanzania (Maraba).

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.402)
Dialects

Coastal Makwe (Palma), Interior Makwe. Not inherently intelligible with Swahili [swh]. Lexical similarity: 60% with Swahili [swh], 57% with Mwani [wmw], 48% with Yao [yao].

Language Use

Men also use Swahili [swh]. Most Palma men also use Mwani [wmw]. Some also use Makonde [kde]. Those with schooling can read Portuguese [por] or Swahili.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 20%. Motivation for literacy is high. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Makwe
Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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