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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Benin > Biali

Biali

A language of Benin

ISO 639-3: beh

Population	64,500 in Benin (1991). Population total all countries: 66,000.
Region	Atakora Province, Materi Subprefecture; Borgou Province, Ouessi Subprefecture. Also in Burkina Faso.
Language map	Benin, reference number 7
Alternate names	Berba, Bieri, Bjerb, Bjeri
Dialects	Dassari, Gouande, Materi, Pingou, Tihoun, Tangeta, Porga.
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern
Language use	Some also use French.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 10% French. Radio programs.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	The language is called ‘Biali’ or ‘Bieri’, the people ‘Bialaba’. ‘Berba’ is the French name. Historical accounts claim they originated in the F’ada Ngourma area of Burkina Faso. Different from Baatonum (Berba). Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Burkina Faso

Language name	Biali
Population	1,500 in Burkina Faso (1991).
Region	Tapoa and Gourma provinces, at Benin border, south of Arli.
Language map	Burkina Faso, reference number 1
Alternate names	Berba, Bieri, Bjerb, Bjeri, Burba
Language use	All ages. 30%–40% are monolingual.
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 9%.
Comments	Different from Baatonum [bba] (Berba). Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BERTHELETTE, John, author. 2004. Information structure in narrative texts in Byali (a Gur language of Benin).

HENSON, Bonnie J.; TOMPKINS, Barbara, authors. 2011. "A sociolinguistic survey of the Biali language area."  

REEDER, JeDene; WHITE, Edith L., authors. 2001. Training nationals in literature production: an experience in Northwestern Benin.

ROBERTS, David, author. 2008. L'orthographe du ton dans les langues béninoises.

Vernacular Publications

Bisi cwagəm. 2006.

Dopweim toyeni. 2006.

Kwanu desəsi. 2006.

Myerəhu, syeli n desə-i. 2006.

Niim nwam bwosi bwigə e. 2006.

Paa yiywogə, Sida bou!. 2006.

Tə byendə heim də cuóləm tuntuom! Heim də cuóləm də byendəm Sabi-cembi byali hyahə. 2011.

Tə byendəni cuoləm tuntwom !: cuoləm sabi dyaki. 2005.

Tə teini byali dakoru! Sabədiemkai. 2005.

Tə teini byali dakoru!: sabədiemkai. 2004.

Tə teini byali dakoru!: sabəyakai. 2004.

Tə teini byali dakoru!: sabəyakai. 2005.