Alternate Names: GiTemi, Kisonjo, Kitemi, Sonjo, Wasonjo, Watemi
Dialects: None known. Reportedly shows similarities to Gikuyu , of Kenya.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 30,000 (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 30,000.
Language Use: Home, market, village. All ages. Positive attitudes. Most also use Swahili [swh]. Swahili used in education.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Prevalence of Swahili literacy leads to low interest in L1 literacy. Poetry. Bible portions: 2007–2012.
Typology: SVO, 15 noun classes, question word final, maximum prefixes 3, maximum suffixes 2, no gender affixes, active and passive suffixes, 17 consonant phonemes; 7 vowel phonemes; non-tonal.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Tanzania
Other Comments: Ethnic autonym: Batem. Traditional religion.