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East Timor Language

by Vishal Kumar

East Timor Language comprises of many kinds of languages and the main language of the country is Tetum. Tetum has an influence of the Portuguese origin and is actually an Austronesian…


East Timor Language comprises of many kinds of languages and the main language of the country is Tetum. Tetum has an influence of the Portuguese origin and is actually an Austronesian language. Along with Tetum Portuguese is also one of the official ones of the East Timor Leste Language.

Fataluku which is a language of the Papuan origin is widely spoken in the Eastern part of the country and is officially accepted by the constitution as one of the indigenous languages of East Timor. Some of the other indigenous ones among the East Timor Language are Idalaka, Habun, Galoli,Makalero, Lovaia, Wetarese, Tokodede, Kewak, Kawaimina and Bunak.

When the Portuguese had the full control of the country of East Timor, East Timor Leste Language had a lot of influence of it as most of the education was imparted through through the medium of that language. So much was the influence of the Portuguese language that the dialect of the domestic language of Tetun Prasa had Portuguese touches in it.

East Timor Leste Language also had the influence of the old language of Bahasa Indonesia but it is no more an official language these days rather it has the recognition of the working language under the directives of the constitution. The preference of the Indonesian Language is more among the younger generation who were educated under their system.

But many of the people from the young generation do not support the idea of the Portuguese as one of the official ones of the East Timor Leste Language as it has a colonial origin in it.

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