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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Rwanda > Rwanda

Rwanda

A language of Rwanda

ISO 639-3: kin

Population  6,490,000 in Rwanda (1998). Population total all countries: 7,504,900.
Region  Also in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda.
Alternate names   Ikinyarwanda, Kinyarwanda, Orunyarwanda, Ruanda, Urunyaruanda
Dialects  Igikiga (Kiga, Tshiga), Bufumbwa, Hutu (Lera, Ululera, Hera, Ndara, Shobyo, Tshogo, Ndogo), Rutwa (Twa). Intelligible with Rundi [run].
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Rwanda-Rundi (J.60)
Language use  Official language. Hima is an ethnic group (not a language) which speaks Rwanda or Rundi.
Language development  Bible: 1954–1993.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Ethnic groups: Hutu 89%, Tutsi 10%, Twa (pygmies, 30,000; 1972 Barrett) 1%. Possibly 75% of the Batwa killed in the 1994 war. SVO. Christian, traditional religion, Muslim. Twa: traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Language name   Rwanda
Population  250,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (UBS).
Region  Nord-Kivu Province, Rwanda border area between Lakes Edward and Kivu, and westward.
Language maps  Northern Democratic Republic of Congo
Southern Democratic Republic of Congo
Alternate names  Kinyarwanda, Ruanda
Dialects  Bwisha (Kinyabwisha), Mulenge (Kinyamulenge), Twa.
Comments  Dialects in Democratic Republic of the Congo may need separate literature. Traditional religion, Christian.
 

Uganda

Language name   Rwanda
Population  764,000 in Uganda (2002 census). 448,918 speakers of Rufumbira and 314,987 of Rwanda.
Region  Southwest border with Rwanda, Kisoro (mainly), Kabale, and Ntungamo districts.
Language map  Uganda, reference number 29
Alternate names  Ruanda, Runyarwanda
Dialects  Rufumbira, Twa.
Language use  Vigorous.
Language development  Literacy campaign in progress.
Comments  Rufumbira may be distinct, the Twa dialect is extinct.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BICKFORD, J. Albert, author. 1986. "Possessor ascension in Kinyarwanda."