Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Meru language

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Native to
  
Kenya

Region
  
Mount Kenya and Eastern Province

Native speakers
  
2.0 million (2009 census)

Language family
  
Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu Northeast Bantu Kikuyu–Kamba Meru

ISO 639-3
  
Variously: mer – Meru thk – Tharaka mws – Mwimbi-Muthambi cuh – Cuka

Glottolog
  
nort3214  (Meru–Tharaka–Cuka) mwim1241

Meru is the language spoken by the Meru people (Ameru) who live on the Eastern and Northern slopes of Mount Kenya, Kenya, Africa and on the Nyambene ranges. They settled in this area after centuries of migration from the north.

The Meru people are a fairly homogeneous community and all share a common ancestry. They speak the same language, Kimeru, but there are some slight regional differences, in accent and local words. The community comprises the following subdivisions; from the north to south:

  • Igembe
  • Tigania (Tiania) (culture close to neighbouring Cushitic and Nilotic communities)
  • Imenti
  • Tharaka (Saraka)
  • Igoji
  • Mwimbi–Muthambi
  • Chuka (Gicuka) (marginal intelligibility with Meru proper and with Gikuyu)
  • As the Meru language is similar to its surrounding neighbors, the Kikuyu and Embu could have possibly adopted parts of Meru.

    References

    Meru language Wikipedia