Kiembu

EBU

vigorous

Alternate Names: Embo, Embu

Dialects: Embu, Mbeere (Kimbeere, Mbere). Mbeere dialect reportedly has intelligibility with Embu. Population estimate may include Gichuka , and Mwimbi-Muthambi ,. Lexical similarity: 85% with the Mbeere dialect, 73% with Gikuyu , and Gichuka ,, 66% with Kamba ,, 63%–65% with Kimîîru ,.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Bantoid
Southern
Narrow Bantu
Central
E
Kikuyu-Kamba (E.52)

Demographics: 429,000 (1994 I. Larsen), increasing.

Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Some also use Gikuyu [kik] due to previous teaching in schools, but limited in rural areas. Comprehension of Kimîîru [mer] limited. Up to 70% have low proficiency in Kiswahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Kimîîru [mer], Mwimbi-Muthambi [mws].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. There are government literacy materials in Kiembu. Bible: 2012.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Kenya

Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.