Vwanji

WBI

developing

Alternate Names: Kivwanji, Kiwanji, Wanji

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Bantoid
Southern
Narrow Bantu
Central
G
Bena-Kinga (G.66)

Demographics: 28,000 (2003 SIL).

Language Use: Adolescents prefer Swahili [swh]. Those who stay in the area often go back to Vwanji when they get older. Private domains. All ages. Positive attitudes.

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Very low. SIL has transition literacy work (Swahili to Vwanji); some pre-school basic literacy classes. Bible portions: 1979–2012.

Typology: SVO; Prepositions; Noun Head Initial; Noun classes; Verbal affixation for subject, object, tense, aspect, mood and derivation; 25 consonant phonemes; 14 vowel phonemes, 7 qualities; tonal.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Tanzania

Other Comments: Christian (Protestant).