Talinga-Bwisi | Ethnologue

A language of Uganda

ISO 639: tlj
Alternate Names: Bwisi, Bwissi, Kitalinga, Lubwissi, Mawissi, Olubwisi, Talinge
Autonym: Lubwisi
Population: 101,000 in Uganda (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation. Total users in all countries: 131,900.
Location:: Bundibugyo district: Bwamba county, southwest of Fort Portal, between Albert and Edward lakes; Democratic Republic of the Congo border.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Nyoro-Ganda (E.102)
Dialects: None known. 68% inherent intelligibility with Tooro [ttj]. Lexical similarity: 73% with Tooro [ttj], 72% with Nyoro [nyo], 40% with Nande [nnb].
Typology: SVO; CV, V; tonal.
Language Use: Home, some churches, market, if both are Babwisi. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Tooro [ttj]. Many also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Amba [rwm], Mvuba [mxh].
Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 2015–2017.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Talinga-Bwisi
Writing: Latin script [Latn], used since 2000.
Other Comments: Different from Bwisi of Congo and Gabon. Christian, Muslim.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Location: Nord-Kivu province: Beni territory, Butalinga county, Virunga National Park boundary, up to Uganda border.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments: Different from Bwisi [bwz] of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon.

Location: Bundibugyo district: Bwamba county, southwest of Fort Portal, between Albert and Edward lakes; Democratic Republic of the Congo border.