diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1721ab1e..43aa1b29 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
 *  Group languages by their language family and use BCP47 compliant names.
 *  Support for Windows and BSD platforms.
 *  Removed support for WinCE, MS-DOS and RiscOS.
-*  Add support for a `maintainer` field in voice files for tracking voice
-   maintenance.
+*  Add support for `maintainer` and `status` field in voice files for tracking
+   voice maintenance.
 
 build:
 
diff --git a/docs/voices.md b/docs/voices.md
index 69892313..8da3521f 100644
--- a/docs/voices.md
+++ b/docs/voices.md
@@ -150,6 +150,18 @@ Specifies the person responsible for updating the voice and associated language
 files. If no maintainer is specified, the voice does not currently have an
 active maintainer.
 
+### status
+
+	status <status level>
+
+Specifies how advanced the support for the language is:
+
+* `testing` -- Provides the basic level of support, with basic pronunciation
+   rules. Requires feedback from a native speaker to help improve the voice.
+
+* `mature` -- The language is well supported. It has been improved by, or with
+  support from, a native speaker.
+
 ## Voice Attributes
 
 ### pitch
diff --git a/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c b/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
index 342543ca..0d68db6b 100644
--- a/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
+++ b/src/libespeak-ng/voices.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ enum {
 	V_DICTIONARY,
 
 	V_MAINTAINER,
+	V_STATUS,
 
 	// these affect voice quality, are independent of language
 	V_FORMANT,
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ static MNEM_TAB keyword_tab[] = {
 	{ "gender",       V_GENDER },
 
 	{ "maintainer",   V_MAINTAINER },
+	{ "status",       V_STATUS },
 
 	{ "formant",      V_FORMANT },
 	{ "pitch",        V_PITCH },
@@ -885,6 +887,7 @@ voice_t *LoadVoice(const char *vname, int control)
 			}
 			break;
 		case V_MAINTAINER:
+		case V_STATUS:
 			break;
 		default:
 			if ((key & 0xff00) == 0x100)