Lese

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
les
Alternate Names
Balese, Lesa, Lesse, Lissi, Mbuti, Walese, Walisi
Population

50,000 (1991 SIL).

Location

Orientale Province, Watsa, Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa territories.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, East, Mangbutu-Efe
Dialects

Arumbi (Upstream Lese), Fare, Lese Karo, Ndese (Lese Dese), Vukutu (Obi, Vonkutu). Similar to Mamvu [mdi], Bendi [bct], Mangbutu [mdk], and Efe [efe].

Language Use

Some also use Congo Swahili [swc] (Kingwana) or Bangala [bxg].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lese
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.