Leti

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
lti
Alternate Names
Lir Leti
User Population

7,710 (2017 R. Saupia).

Location

Maluku province: Southwest Maluku regency, Leti island sub-district.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Southwest Maluku, Luang
Dialects

Leti Tomra, Leti Tutukey, Leti Luhulely, Leti Nuwewang. Marginal intelligibility and difficulty with written Luang [lex]. Lexical similarity: 89% with Luang [lex].

Typology

SVO; noun head initial; 10 consonants and 7 vowels; non-tonal; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.

Language Use

No longer spoken by younger generations (Hajek 2006). Shifting to Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Luang [lex].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Leti
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Matrilineal. They share historical and cultural heritage with Luang [lex], but maintain their own identity and local pride. Christian.