Ethnologue

Asu

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Ashu, Athu, Casu, Chasu, Chiasu, Kiathu, Kipare, Pare, Pare-Asu

Population

530,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). 25,000 monolinguals.

Location

Kilimanjaro region: Pare mountains, Mwanga and Same districts; Manyara and Tanga regions.

Language Maps

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Dialects

Gonja, Mbaga. Related to Taveta [tvs].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, religion. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gweno [gwe], Mbugu [mhd].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 80%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1922–1967.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

‘Wapare’ is an ethnic group name. Christian, Muslim.