Kpelle
/kpɛle/
noun
Origin
Kpelle
Kpɛlɛɛ — The autonym of the people.
Overview
Meaning Now
- A Mande language spoken primarily in Liberia and Guinea.
- A member of the ethnic group that speaks this language.
Language path
Kpelle → Mande → Niger-Congo
Earliest form
Kpelle
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The Kpelle people are the largest ethnic group in Liberia. They are known for their complex social structures and are often studied in anthropology for their traditional political systems and the Kpelle syllabary developed in the 1930s by Chief Gbili.
Evolution
- Pre-19th century
Kpɛlɛɛ
“Autonym for the linguistic and ethnic group.”
Oral tradition suggests the name has been used by the group since their migration into their current territory.
- 19th century
Kpelle
“Standardized spelling by Western explorers and linguists.”
- 20th-21st century
Kpelle
“Modern linguistic designation.”
Used widely in linguistic literature.
Connections
Related across languages
Mende
Kpɛlɛ
The Kpelle people (as named by the Mende).
Explore next
Related to Kpelle
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.