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; Nord-Kivu province: border enclave north of Beni.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Central Sudanic, East, Mangbutu-Efe
Dialects

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

Language Use

Also use Bangala [bxg], Congo Swahili [swc].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lese
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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