Timor-Leste, or East Timor, a Southeast Asian nation occupying half the island of Timor, is ringed by coral reefs teeming with marine life. Landmarks in the capital, Dili, speak to the country’s struggles for independence from Portugal in 1975 and then Indonesia in 2002. The iconic 27m-tall Cristo Rei de Dili statue sits on a hilltop high over the city, with sweeping views of the surrounding bay.
The eastern part of Timor island is rugged, with the mountains rising to 9,721 feet (2,963 meters) at Mount Tatamailau (Tata Mailau) in the center of a high plateau. The area has a dry tropical climate and moderate rainfall. Hilly areas are covered with sandalwood
Key Cities
Key cities in Timor-Leste include: Dili, Maliana, Suai, Likisa, Aileu, Lospalos, Maubara, Baucau, and Venilale.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and was known as Portuguese Timor until 28 November 1975, when the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) declared the territory’s independence.
The Culture of East Timor reflects numerous cultural influences, including Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Malay, on the indigenous Austronesian cultures in East Timor.
The majority of the population of East Timor is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is the dominant religious institution, although it is not formally the state religion. There are also small Protestant and Sunni Muslim communities.
Brief Country History
From 1520 to 1914 the island of Timor was ruled by the Portuguese. Then, with regard to the division of the island, the International Court of Justice ruled. Thus, the island was divided into an eastern part, today Timor-Leste, where the Portuguese remained and a western part becoming part of the Dutch East Indies, which is today known as Indonesia.
In 1975 when Portugal became independent, Indonesian troops invaded East-Timor and occupied the country. For 24 years the Timorese suffered under this occupation until Timor-Leste did the first steps towards independence in 1999. This in turn displeased the Indonesian occupying power, which then destroyed large parts of the country. Because of these acts of violence, the United Nations acted and took over the temporary administration until 20 May 2002, when the state East-Timor was founded.
Even after the state was founded, violence would not stop forcing the UN to continue its presence in the country for several more years.
Meanwhile, this UN has completed its mission and the young state is trying to find its place in Asia.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
The languages of East Timor include both Austronesian and Papuan languages. (See Timor–Flores languages and Timor–Alor–Pantar languages.) The lingua franca and national language of East Timor is Tetum, an Austronesian language influenced by Portuguese, with which it has equal status as an official language.
The lingua franca and national language of East Timor is Tetum, an Austronesian language influenced by Portuguese, with which it has equal status as an official language. The language of the Ocussi exclave is Uab Meto (Dawan).
Important Types of Commerce in Timor-Leste
East Timor is a sovereign state found in South East Asia. It is also known as Timor-Leste. It is made up of part of the island of Timor and the neighboring islands of Jaco, Oecusse, and Atauro. The country measures about 5,400 square miles in size. According to the World Bank, East Timor is a low-economy country with a medium level of human development. With a population of 1.296 million estimated in 2017, more than 20% of the population is unemployed, and more than 50% live on less than $1 per day.
In 2012, the country’s GDP was an estimated $1.293 billion with GDP per capita estimated at $3,620. In the same year, agriculture accounted for 32.1% of the GDP while industry accounted for 12.9% of the GDP and the service industry accounted for 55% of the country’s GDP. The country still suffers the consequences of decades of a liberation struggle against Indonesia which displaced thousands of civilians and severely destroyed up to 70% of the economic infrastructure. East Timor has a market economy that relies on the export of a few commodities including coffee, marble, sandalwood, and petroleum among others. Major industry in East Timor includes:
- Agriculture
- Oil and Gas
- Manufacturing
Language Services US and others will provide working with Timor-Leste
Austronesian and Papuan are the official languages of Timor-Leste. For any industry to penetrate into Timor-Leste, it’s exceptionally important to use a professional translator when you want to translate Austronesian and Papuan. Many business sectors, including Automobile, Legal, Medial, Agriculture, Tech, Science, Government and so on utilize professional Austronesian and Papuan translation services to flawlessly translate their important documents. A professional Austronesian and Papuan translator with an expert understanding of the use of vocabulary and grammar is best equipped to handle the specific nuances of this unique language.
Looking for an Austronesian and Papuan translation company? Look no further. American Language Services (AML-Global) offers certified translations, native interpreting services, and turn-key localization solutions for any language. Call us today @ 1-800-951-5020 for further information, visit our website https://www.alsglobal.net/ or for a quick quote click http://alsglobal.net/quick-quote.php.
