Biete

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
biu
Alternate Names
Baite, Bete, Biate
Population

19,000 (IMA 1997).

Location

Northeast Mizoram, Aizawl district, Darlawn, Ratu, and New Vervek villages; Assam, Cachar Hills; Manipur; Meghalaya, Jaintia hills district.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin, Northern
Dialects

None known. Reportedly similar to Hrangkhol [hra], and similar enough to Mizo [lus] and Hmar [hmr] that they can be read with comprehension.

Language Use

Home, village, church. Also use Hindi [hin] in Assam. Khasi [kha] in Meghalaya. War Jaintia [aml] in Meghalaya. Also use Mizo [lus]. Used as L2 by Sakachep [sch].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 56%. Bible: 2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Biete
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. An ethnic subgroup of the Mizo. Not the same as the Biate dialect of Chin Thado [tcz] (Breton 1997). Christian (Protestant).