yey ISO 639
Shiyeyi Autonyms
Yeyi
Visualizations
A language of Botswana
- ISO 639
- yey
- Alternate Names
- Ciyei, Seyei, Seyeyi, Siyei, Wayeyi, Yeei, Yei, “Koba” (pej.), “Kuba” (pej.), “Sekoba” (pej.)
- Autonym
- Shiyeyi
- Population
- 4,180 in Botswana (2015 UNSD). Ethnic population: 47,000. Total users in all countries: 11,180.
- Location
- Central district: Letihakane, Motopi, Rakops, and Xumu; North West district: Maun, Shorobe up to Daunara, Gumare, Ikoga, Mababe, Nokaneng, Sankoyo, Sepopo, Seronga, and Shakawe.
- Language Maps
- Botswana, Namibia
- Language Status
- 6b (Threatened).
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Yeyi (R.41)
- Dialects
- Shirwanga. Not closely related to other languages. Lexical similarity: 47% with Luyana [lyn], 30% with Herero [her].
- Typology
- SVO; postpositions; articles, adjectives, numerals after noun heads; relatives before or after; question word initial; 4 prefixes, one suffix; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects; noun affixes indicate case; verb affixes mark person, number, gender; CVC; nontonal.
- Language Use
- 43% who learned Yeyi from their parents said they speak Yeyi best, 57% said they speak Setswana [tsn] best. 12% of respondents said they speak only Yeyi to their children, 9% speak Yeyi and Setswana to their children. Some young people, all adults. In some villages, children speak Yeyi. In many villages used only by those over 40. All also use Setswana [tsn]. Also use English [eng], especially young people who have attended secondary school.
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L2: Age 15–29: 95% Setswana, 68% English; age 30–54: 33% Setswana, 20% English; age 55 and older: 33% Setswana, 6% English. High motivation for literacy. Dictionary. Grammar.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn].
- Other Comments
- Christian.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Yeyi
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Zambezi region.
- Dialects
- Shirwanga.
- Language Status
- 6a (Vigorous)
- Language Use
- All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Kuhane [sbs]. Also use Lozi [loz]. Also use Mashi [mho]. Also use Mbukushu [mhw]. Also use Setswana [tsn]. Used as L2 by Fwe [fwe].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: 13%. Literacy rate in L2: 68% in Setswana [tsn].
- Other Comments
- Christian. View other languages of Namibia
Language Name
Yeyi
User Population
7,000 in Namibia (2016).
