Tetun

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A language of East Timor

ISO 639-3
tet
Alternate Names
Belo, Belu, Teto, Tettum, Tetu, Tetum, Tetun Terik, Tetung
Autonym
Tetun
User Population

63,500 in East Timor (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 463,500.

Location

Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque districts: Soibada to Suai to Ponta Beaco on East Timor south coast; Bobonaro and Cova Lima districts: separate enclaves west.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity.

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Timor-Babar, Nuclear Timor
Dialects

Eastern Tetun (Lakluta, Natarbora, Soibada, Tetun Loos, Tetun Los), Southern Tetun (Belu Selatan, Lia Fehan, Plain Tetun, South Belu, South Tetun, Tasi Mane, Tetun-Belu), Northern Tetun (Belu Utara, Hill Tetun, Lia Foho, North Belu, Tasi Feto, Tetun Terik, Tetun Therik). More Indonesian [ind] or Malay influence, and less contact with Portuguese [por] (Williams-van Klinken et al 2002).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Bunak [bfn], Tetun Dili [tdt], Welaun [wlh].

Language Development

Literature. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2013.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tetun
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Different from Tetun Dili [tdt]. Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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