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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Uganda > Teso

Teso

A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3: teo

Population  1,570,000 in Uganda (2002 census). Population total all countries: 1,849,000.
Region  East, Katakwi (mainly), Soroti, Kaberamaido, Kumi, Pallisa, and Tororo districts. Lokathan, Madial area, Nangeya Mountains north end. Also in Kenya.
Language map  Uganda, reference number 35
Alternate names   Ateso, Bakedi, Bakidi, Elgumi, Etossio, Ikumama, Wamia
Dialects  Lokathan (Biri, Ketebo, Mening), Orom (Rom). Limited intelligibility with other varieties in the Teso-Turkana group. The dialect in Ngoro is considered standard. Lexical similarity: 76% with Turkana [tuv], 75% with Karamojong [kdj].
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso
Language use  Vigorous. All ages.
Language development  Literacy campaign in progress. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1961.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  The people are ‘Iteso’. VSO; highly inflectional; grammatical tone; vowel harmony. Pastoralists; agriculturalists: finger millet, sorghum, groundnuts, cassava, cow peas, sweet potatoes, soya beans, sesame, maize, vegetables, cotton. Christian, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Kenya

Language name   Teso
Population  279,000 in Kenya (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001), increasing.
Region  Western Province, Busia District.
Language map  Kenya, reference number 54
Alternate names  Ateso
Dialects  Lokathan (Biri, Ketebo, Mening), Orom (Rom).
Language use  GIDS 6. Home, social gatherings. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Kiswahili [swh], English, or surrounding Oluluyia [luy] varieties.
Comments  Christian, traditional religion.