Page Type: languageTemi | Ethnologue

SOZ ISO 639-3

Temi

GiTemi Autonym

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639
soz
Alternate Names
Batem, Kisonjo, Kitemi, Sonjo, Sonyo, Wasonjo, Watemi
Autonym
GiTemi
Population
24,600 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Ethnic population: 30,000.
Location:
Arusha region: Ngorongoro district, north central near Kenya border, Maasai area. 7 villages: Digodigo, Kisangiro, Mdito, Mugholo, Oldonyo Sambu, Sale, and Samunga.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Temi (E.46)
Dialects
None known. Reportedly shows similarities to Gikuyu [kik] of Kenya.
Typology
SVO, 15 noun classes, question word final, maximum prefixes 3, maximum suffixes 2, no gender affixes, active and passive suffixes, 17 consonant phonemes; 7 vowel phonemes; non-tonal.
Language Use
Home, market, village. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Swahili [swh]. Swahili used in education.
Language Development
Prevalence of Swahili literacy leads to low interest in L1 literacy. Literature. Bible portions: 2007–2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Temi
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Arusha region: Ngorongoro district, north central near Kenya border, Maasai area. 7 villages: Digodigo, Kisangiro, Mdito, Mugholo, Oldonyo Sambu, Sale, and Samunga.