Page Type: languageYeyi | Ethnologue

YEY ISO 639-3

Yeyi

Shiyeyi Autonym

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 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.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Yeyi
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Yeyi
User Population
7,000 in Namibia (2016).
Location
Zambezi region.
Dialects
Shirwanga.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Christian.
View other languages of Namibia

Map

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.