Also Known As:
Gorowa, Goroa, Kimbulu, Fiome, Ufiomi
Dialects & Varieties
- High degree of mutual intelligibility with Iraqw [irk]
- a separate ethnic group
Gorwaa (Tanzania) - Language Contexts
Gorwaa (Tanzania) - Language Contexts
Threatened
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
132,748 likely total speakers; 79,751 likely daily speakers
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 2
A majority of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are gradually decreasing.
2
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 1
Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.
1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Used frequently in rural areas but being replaced by Swahili for everyday use, especially in larger towns; code-switching is ubiquitous. Speakers are highly mobile; they often marry into a family, seek medical treatment, attend school, or seek work in a distant village.
Location and Context
Countries
Dodoma and Manyara Regions of north-central Tanzania
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
banned from use in public domains
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Older Gorwaa in rural areas tend to be enthusiastic about their language, while younger Gorwaa in urban areas view it as less useful and may be embarrassed to speak it. Some young Gorwaa use the exonym Mbulu (from a large Iraqw settlement) and say they speak Kimbulu; however, it is still the Gorwaa language.
Elderly Gorwaa consultants have contributed to a large body of data including songs, traditional justic, uncommon vocabulary, etc. Young speakers involved in documentation of Gorwaa have become researchers and assumed ownership of the project.
Elderly Gorwaa consultants have contributed to a large body of data including songs, traditional justic, uncommon vocabulary, etc. Young speakers involved in documentation of Gorwaa have become researchers and assumed ownership of the project.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Swahili, English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
Iraqw
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
Instances of Gorwaa writing are rare, and show a great variety of non-standard spellings
Recent Resources
This deposit contains audiovisual material collected during Andrew Harvey’s work with the Gorwaa lan