Bende | Ethnologue

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639: bdp
Alternate Names: Babende, Bhabhēnde, Kibende, Si’bende
Autonym: Sibhēnde
Population: 41,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).
Location:: Katavi region: Mpanda district, Kabungu, Karema, and Mwese divisions; Rukwa region.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F, Tongwe-Bende (F.12)
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 74% with Sumbwa [suw], 72% with Nyamwezi [nym], 70% with Sukuma Hu [suk], 67% with Ha [haq], 71% with Rundi [run], 60% with Hangaza [han], 58% with Nyankore [nyn], 65% with Holoholo [hoo] and 90% with Tongwe [tny]. Bende and Tongwe may be a single language.
Language Use: Used by all. Also use Swahili [swh].
Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2018.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Bende
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

Location: Katavi region: Mpanda district, Kabungu, Karema, and Mwese divisions; Rukwa region.