Bende

Print

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
bdp
Alternate Names
Kibende, Si’bende
Population

27,000 (1999).

Location

Rukwa Region, Mpanda district, Kabungu, Karema, and Mwese divisions.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F, Tongwe (F.12)
Dialects

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

All ages. Many have low proficiency in Swahili [swh].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bende
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.