# Taveta language > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Taveta_language > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Taveta_language.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taveta_language > Source revision: 1239477704 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Northeast Coast Bantu languages of Kenya Taveta Native to Kenya Ethnicity Taveta Native speakers 21,000 (2009 census)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Northeast Coast Bantu Pare-Taveta Taveta Language codes ISO 639-3 tvs Glottolog tave1240 Guthrie code G.21[2] **Taveta** or **Tubeta** is a [Northeast Coast Bantu language](/source/Northeast_Coast_Bantu_language) spoken by the [Taveta people](/source/Taveta_people) of [Kenya](/source/Kenya). It is closely related to [Pare](/source/Pare_language) (called Chasu by speakers). Taveta was confused with [Dawida](/source/Dawida_language) by Jouni Maho in his (2009) classification.[2] ## Oral literature In 1910 [Alfred Claud Hollis](/source/Alfred_Claud_Hollis) published a collection of appx. 100 Taveta proverbs collected from speakers in what was then the southern part of the British [East Africa Protectorate](/source/East_Africa_Protectorate).[3] Here are some of those proverbs: - "*Esikie mbeho niye esongeria moto.*" "It is he who feels cold that approaches the fire (i.e. a person does not do a thing for no reason at all)." (#4) - "*Ukakoma nyoka, mhome na kamwe.*" "If you kill a snake, kill it entirely." (#6) - "*Ibau liiya na lisiiya, iwiwi ni lisiiya.*" "Of the hyena that howls and that does not howl, the bad one is the one that does not howl (i.e. it is better to fight a brave and straightforward enemy than one that is cowardly and underhand)." (#8) - "*Ideghe imwe likaremwa kuiya teheshigha kucha.*" "If one bird ceases singing the dawn will not stop (i.e. the world will not come to an end because one bird ceases singing or because one man dies)." (#10) - "*Iraro la zowu liyaiwa ni suni.*" "The elephant's bed is slept on by the gazelle (i.e. when a rich man leaves his dwelling as no longer suitable for him, a poor man is only too glad to take up his residence there)." (#14) In 1911, Hollis also published a collection 66 Taveta riddles.[4] ## Christian literature Items in Taveta were first published by Anglican missionaries. Rev. Albert Remington Steggall worked with a native called Yohana Nene Mdighirri, to translated the Scriptures into Taveta. In 1892 the Gospels of Mark and John were published as *Sumu Yedi ya Isa Masiya, hena Marko and Sumu Yedi, yakwe Yohana*. They were printed at the [Church Mission Society](/source/Church_Mission_Society) CMS Station. In 1894, the epistles 1-3 John were published. In 1896 The Gospels according to St. Matthew and St. Luke were published by BFBS as *Sumu Yedi yakwe Yesu Masihi hena Mattayo* and *Sumu Yedi yakwe Yesu Masihi (niye Jesus Christ) hena Luka*. In 1897 the book of Exodus was published as *Kitamo cha keri cha Musa chaitangwa ‘Kufuma’*, printed at the Office of the Taveta Chronicle. The bulk of this edition was destroyed by a fire in 1903. In 1900 the Acts of the Apostles were published by the [British and Foreign Bible Society](/source/British_and_Foreign_Bible_Society), BFBS as *Mihiro ya Waondo*. Also in 1900 the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude were published as *Mawaraka Mawo Waondo Yakobo, Petro, na Yuda*. They were printed at the CMS Taveta Mission Station. In 1903 the Gospel of Mark was revised from the 1892 edition and published by BFBS. In 1894 the [Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge](/source/Society_for_Promoting_Christian_Knowledge) published the [Book of Common Prayer](/source/Book_of_Common_Prayer) as *Taveta Kitamo cha Kuomba*. In 1895 Steggall published, through the SPCK, Hymns in the language of Taveta. In 1905 The Psalms were published by SPCK as *Malumbo, hena viteto vya kituweta*: (the Psalms, in the language of Taveta), and printed by Richard Clay and Sons of Bungay. There were published by SPCK. In 1906 the Epistles and the Revelation were published as *Mawaraka na Ujughuo: hena viteto vya kiyuweta*: (the Epistles and the Revelation in Taveta), and these completed the New Testament.[5] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-e21_1-0)** [Taveta](https://www.ethnologue.com/21/language/tvs) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (21st ed., 2018) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-1) Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hollis, Alfred Claud (1910). ["Taveta Sayings and Proverbs."](https://archive.org/details/pub-domain-african-proverbs/page/n807/mode/2up?view=theater) *Journal of the African Society*. 9: 255-266. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hollis, Alfred Claud (1911). ["Taveta Enigmas"](https://archive.org/details/hollis-taveta-enigmas). *Journal of the African Society*, 10: 200-212. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*TAVETA Bible | Taveta Bible 1906 | YouVersion*](https://www.bible.com/versions/3353). v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) (by Guthrie classification) Zone E [J]E10 [J]E11 Nyoro [J]E12 Tooro [J]E13 Nyankore [J]E14 Ciga [J]E15 Ganda [J]E16 Soga [J]E17 Gwere [J]E18 Nyala [JE101 Gungu JE102 Talinga-Bwisi JE103 Ruli JE121 Hema [J]E20 [J]E21 Nyambo [J]E22 Ziba [J]E23 Dzindza [J]E24 Kerebe [J]E25 Jita [JE221 Rashi JE251 Kwaya JE252 Kara JE253 Ruri [J]E30 [J]E31a Gisu [J]E31b Kisu [J]E31c Bukusu [J]E32a Hanga [J]E32b Tsotso [J]E33 Nyore [J]E34 Saamia [J]E35 Nyuli [JE341 Xaayo JE342 Marachi JE343 Songa [J]E40 [J]E41 Logooli [J]E42 Gusii [J]E43 Koria [J]E44 Zanaki [J]E45 Nata E46 Sonjo [JE401 Nguruimi JE402 Ikizu JE403 Suba/Suba-Simbiti JE404 Shashi JE405 Kabwa JE406 Singa JE407 Ware JE411 Idaxo JE412 Isuxa JE413 Tiriki JE431 Simbiti JE432 Hacha JE433 Surwa JE434 Sweta E50 E51 Kikuyu E52 Embu E53 Meru E54 Saraka E55 Kamba E56 Daiso [E531 Mwimbi-Muthambi E541 Cuka E60 E61[621a] Rwo E62a[621b,622a] Hai E62b[622c] Wunjo E62c[623] Rombo E63 Rusa E64 Kahe E65 Gweno E70 E71 Pokomo E72a Gyriama E72b Kauma E72c Conyi E72d Duruma E72e Rabai E73 Digo E74a Dabida E74b[741] Sagala [E701 Elwana E731 Segeju E732 Degere E74 Taita Zone F F10 F11 Tongwe F12 Bende [J]F20 [J]F21 Sukuma [J]F22 Nyamwezi [J]F23 Sumbwa [J]F24 Kimbu [J]F25 Bungu F30 F31 Nilamba F32 Remi F33 Langi F34 Mbugwe Zone G G10 G11 Gogo G12 Kaguru G20 G21 Tubeta G22 Asu G23 Shambala G24 Bondei [G221 Mbugu G30 G31 Zigula G32 Ngwele G33 Zaramo G34 Ngulu G35 Ruguru G36 Kami G37 Kutu G38 Vidunda G39 Sagala [G301 Doe G311 Mushungulu G40 G41 Tikuu G42a Amu G42b Mvita G42c Mrima G42d Unguja G43a Phemba G43b Tumbatu G43c Hadimu G44a Ngazija G44b Njuani [G402 Makwe G403 Mwani G404 Sidi G411 Socotra Swahili G412 Mwiini G50 G51 Pogolo G52 Ndamba G60 G61 Sango G62 Hehe G63 Bena G64 Pangwa G65 Kinga G66 Wanji G67 Kisi [G651 Magoma Zone H H10 H11 Beembe H12 Vili H13 Kunyi H14 Ndingi H15 Mboka H16a South Kongo H16b Central Kongo H16c Yombe H16d Fiote H16e Bwende H16f Laadi H16g East Kongo H16h Southeast Kongo [H111 Hangala H112 Kamba-Doondo H131 Suundi H20 H21a Kimbundu H21b Mbamba H22 Sama H23 Bolo H24 Songo H30 H31 Yaka H32 Suku H33 [L12b] Hungu H34 Mbangala H35 Sinji [H321 Soonde H40 H41 Mbala H42 Hunganna Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) Authority control databases: National Israel This Bantu language-related article is a stub. 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