Languages of Togo
Languages of Togo | |
---|---|
Official | English French |
Regional | Government-sponsored languages:Fante, Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Ewe, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Nzema |
Immigrant | Chinese, Arabic,Yoruba Japanese |
Foreign | English French Spanish Arabic Portuguese |
Signed | (American Sign Language) |
French English |
Togo is a multilingual country, which according to one count has 44 languages spoken.[1] The official language is French. Two indigenous languages were designated politically as national languages in 1975: Ewé (Ewe: Èʋegbe) and Kabiyé.
The two national languages tend to be used regionally with Ewé used in the south from Lomé to Blitta, and Kabiyé from Blitta to Dapaong in the north.[citation needed]
Written languages[]
French is the main written language, as most indigenous languages are not commonly used in writing.[citation needed]
Language policy[]
French, which was inherited from the period of French mandate rule over the area, was made the official language at independence.[citation needed]
The decision to give Ewé and Kabiyé status as national languages was decided in 1975 by President Eyadéma.[citation needed]
References[]
- Le français au Togo: une aventure ambigüe, Isabelle Anzorge, Université Nice, 1998.
- ^ Ethnologue, "Languages of Togo" (accessed Oct. 31, 2010)
External links[]
- (in French) Linguistics of the world- Togo - University of Laval
- Languages of Togo
- Togo stubs