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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara) > Tetun

Tetun

A language of Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara)

ISO 639-3: tet

Population  400,000 in Indonesia (2004). Population total all countries: 450,000.
Region  Central Timor corridor north, to south coasts, east of Atoni, west of Bunak (in Batagude); Batibo area, south coast, Viqueque and Soibada areas. Also in East Timor.
Language map  Indonesia, Nusa Tenggara and Southwestern Maluku
Alternate names   Belo, Belu, Fehan, Teto, Tettum, Tetu, Tetum, Tetun Belu, Tetung
Dialects  Eastern Tetun (Soibada, Natarbora, Lakluta, Tetun Loos, Tetun Los), Southern Tetun (Lia Fehan, Plain Tetun, Tasi Mane, Belu Selatan, South Belu, South Tetun), Northern Tetun (Lia Foho, Hill Tetun, Tasi Feto, Belu Utara, North Belu, Tetun Terik, Tetun Therik). Wide variation in morphology and syntax among major dialects; variation in social structure.
Classification  Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Central Malayo-Polynesian, Timor, Extra-Ramelaic, Central
Language development  Grammar. Bible portions: 1997–2004.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

East Timor

Language name   Tetun
Population  50,000 in East Timor (2004).
Region  Western East Timor, south coast from Suai to Viqueque. East of Atoni, west of Bunak (in Batagude) around Batibo, and in from the south coast around Viqueque and Soibada.
Language map  East Timor
Alternate names  Belo, Belu, Fehan, Teto, Tettum, Tetu, Tetum, Tetun Belu, Tetung
Dialects  Eastern Tetun (Soibada, Natarbora, Lakluta, Tetun Loos, Tetun Los), Southern Tetun (Lia Fehan, Plain Tetun, Tasi Mane, Belu Selatan, South Belu, South Tetun), Northern Tetun (Lia Foho, Hill Tetun, Tasi Feto, Belu Utara, North Belu, Tetun Terik, Tetun Therik).
Language use  Official language. Spoken by some Bunak around Suai as L2.
Comments  Christian, traditional religion.