West Teke language

West Teke
Native toRepublic of Congo, Gabon
EthnicityTeke, Bongo Pygmies
Native speakers
120,000 (ca.2000)[1]
(some figures undated)
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
tyi – Tsaayi
lli – Laali
iyx – Yaa
tyx – Tyee (Kwe)
Glottologwest2969  West Kasai-Ngounie
B.73[2]

West Teke is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Congo and Gabon.

West Teke is a dialect continuum. The varieties are Tsaayi (Ge-Tsaya, Tyaye, Tsayi), Laali, Yaa (Yaka), and Tyee (Tee, Kwe). The dominant variety by far is Tsaayi.

  1. ^ Tsaayi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Laali at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Yaa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Tyee (Kwe) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online