Alternate Names: Alagwaisa, Alagwase, Alawa, Asi, Chasi, Hhagiree, Kialagwa, Kichase, Wasi
Dialects: None known. Grammar is closer to Iraqw , but not inherently intelligible. High degree of lexical similarity with Burunge ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 30,000 (Kiessling and Mous 2003).
Language Use: Vigorous in most villages. Home. All ages. Most children use as L1. In mixed villages children tend to speak Rangi [lag] among themselves. Positive attitudes. Also use Langi [lag], Swahili [swh].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: Many are literate in Swahili [swh]; some also in Arabic [arb]. Grammar.
Typology: SVO; content questions with the q-word in situ; 3 genders; two tones, primarily grammatical.
Writing System: Unwritten
Nation of Origin: Tanzania
Other Comments: Many villages have Islamic education and some children know Arabic and Swahili more fluently than Alagwa. Alagwa may be more readily recognized as Wasi. Muslim, traditional religion.