Lendu

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
led
Alternate Names
Bale, Baledha, Balendru, Baletha, Batha, Bbadha, Hema-Nord, Kihema-Nord, Kilendu
Autonym
Bbaledha
User Population

750,000 (1996 SIL).

Location

Ituri province: Djugu territory, west and northwest of Lake Albert.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Central Sudanic, East, Lendu
Dialects

Djadha (Jidha), Tadha, Pidha, Ddralo (Ddradha), Njawlo (Njawdha). Tadha is standard dialect. Djadha is largest and is used for literature. Jidha is the variety of the Bagegere (Northern Hema) who have adopted Lendu.

Language Use

Spoken as L1 by people from 4 ethnic backgrounds: Lendu, Hema-North, Alur, and Okebu. Also use Congo Swahili [swc].

Language Development

Bible: 2016.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lendu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Distinct from the Bale dialect of Ngombe [ngc]. Christian.