Jita | Ethnologue

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639: jit
Alternate Names: Ecijiita, Ecijita, Kijita
Autonym: Echijita
Population: 365,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009), increasing.
Location:: Mara region: Bunda and Musoma rural districts; possibly Mwanza region.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Haya-Jita (E.25)
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 78% with Kwaya [kya], 88% with Ruri [kya], 81% with Kara [reg], 62% with Kerewe [ked].
Typology: SVO, 5-vowel system, contrasted long and short vowels, H-L Lexical tone on verbs and nouns, H-L grammatical tone.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, local gatherings. Preferred language unless speakers of other languages are present. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Kara [reg], Kerewe [ked].
Language Development: Literature. Dictionary. NT: 1943–1960.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Jita
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

Location: Mara region: Bunda and Musoma rural districts; possibly Mwanza region.