Éwé

EWE

wider communication

Alternate Names: Ebwe, Efe, Eibe, Eue, Eve, Gbe, Krepe, Krepi, Popo, Vhe

Dialects: Anglo (Anlo), Awuna, Hudu, Kotafoa. Westernmost language of the Gbe language subgroup.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Kwa
Left Bank
Gbe

Demographics: 2,250,000 in Ghana (2003), increasing. Population total all countries: 3,112,000. L2 users: 500,000 in Ghana.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Akposo [kpo], Avatime [avn], Logba [lgq], Nawdm [nmz], Nkonya [nko], Nyangbo [nyb], Sekpele [lip], Selee [snw], Tafi [tcd], Tuwuli [bov].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1911–2011.

Typology: Whistle speech reported.

Writing System: Braille, Latin

Nation of Origin: Ghana

Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.