Origines & Démographie

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Bamiléké Dialects Demographics

12,875,000 (1995). Republic of Cameroon. Formerly French Cameroun and British Cameroons. Literacy rate 62% to 65%; 36.9% (1977 C.M. Brann). Information mainly from SIL 1996, Atlas Linguistique du Cameroun 1983. Data accuracy estimate: A2, B. Christian, Muslim, traditional religion, Baha'i. Blind population 15,630 (1982 WCE). The number of languages listed for Cameroon is 286. Of those, 279 are living languages, 3 are second languages without mother tongue speakers, and 4 are extinct.

BAMENYAM (MAMENYAN, PAMENYAN, BAMENYAN, MENGAMBO) [BCE] 4,000 (1994 SIL. Around Bamenyam, northwestern Galim Subdivision, Bamboutos Division, West Province; and southeastern Mezam Division, West Province. In the French-speaking area. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun. Bati may be a dialect of Bamenyam. Closely related to Bamali, Bafanji, Bambalang. Some bilingualism in French and Cameroons Pidgin. Stronger commercial links with Mbouda than with Ndop. Traditional religion, Christian.

BAMUN (BAMOUN, BAMOUM, BAMUM) [BAX] 215,000 (1982 SIL). Most of Noun Division around Foumban, plus the extreme north of Mifi Division and the extreme southeast of Bamboutos Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun. Has its own script, though not used for current orthography. Related to Bafanji, Bamali, Bambalang, Bangolan. Trade language. Bible 1988. NT 1967. Bible portions 1925-1980.

FE'FE' (FE'EFE'E, FEEFEE, FEFE, FOTOUNI, BAFANG, BAMILEKE-FE'FE', NUFI) [FMP] 123,700 (1982 SIL). Upper Nkam Division (except for the vicinity of Kekem and a small section in the southeast corner), some in Mifi Division (Bangam), West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: FA' (BAFANG), NKA' (BANKA), NEE (BANA), NJEE-POANTU (BANDJA-BABOUNTOU), NTII (FONDANTI), MKWET (FONDJOMEKWET), LA'FI (BALAFI), TUNGI' (FOTOUNI), NGAM (BANGAN), CA'. First 4 dialects listed belong to Central Fe'fe', next 5 belong to North Fe'fe'. 25% to 50% literate. Bible portions.

GHOMALA' (BANJUN, BANDJOUN, BANJOUN-BAHAM, BALOUM, BATIE, BAMILEKE-BANDJOUN, MANDJU, MAHUM) [BBJ] 260,000 (1982 SIL). Most of Mifi Division (except the extreme south and pockets in the north and west), eastern part of Menoua Division, a pocket in southern Bamboutos Division, and Bamendjou Subdivision, Mifi Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: GHOMALA CENTRAL (BANDJOUN, JO, WE, HOM, YOGAM), GHOMALA NORTH (FUSAP, LANG), GHOMALA SOUTH (TE, PA, DENGKWOP), NGEMBA (BAMENJOU, FU'DA, SA, MONJO, MEKA, MUGUM). Bameka, Bansoa, and Balessing are subdialects of South Ghomala'. 25% to 50% literate. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible portions 1964. Work in progress.

KWA' (BAKWA, BAKOA, BAMILEKE-KWA) [BKO] 8,600 (1982 SIL). Eastern Nkondjok Subdivision, Nkam Division, Littoral Province, and southwest corner of Nde Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: KWA' (BEKWA', BAKOUA, BABWA, MIPA), MBYAM. 'Bamaha' may be an alternate name. Distinct from Kwa (Ba) of Nigeria in the Adamawa branch. Survey needed.

MEDUMBA (BAGANGTE, BANGANGTE, BAMILEKE-MEDUMBA) [BYV] 210,000 (1991 UBS). Major part of Nde Division (Tonga Subdivision and Bangangte Subdivision east of Bangangte), West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialect: BATONGTOU. 15% to 25% literate. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1992. NT 1967. Bible portions 1948-1960.

MENGAKA (GHAP, BENZING, MEGAKA, BAMILEKE-MENGAKA) [XMG] 20,000 (1993 SIL). Bagam, Galim, and Bamendjing, Southern Galim Subdivision, Bamboutos Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: BAGAM, BAMENDJING (BAMENDJIN). 91% lexical similarity among villages, but speakers report no dialect differences. Interest in language development for schools and individual literacy. Distinct from Mungaka (Bali) which is Mbam-Nkam, Nun. Some bilingualism in French among younger speakers and Bamun among older ones. Survey needed.

MUNGAKA (BALI, LI, NGAAKA, NGA'KA, MUNGA'KA) [MHK] 50,100 (1982 SIL). Bali Subdivision, Mezam Division, North West Province; southeastern Galim Subdivision, Bamboutos Division and northern Bafoussam Subdivision, Mifi Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun. Dialects: BALI NYONGA (BALI), TI (BATI), NDE (BANDENG). Ti may be a dialect of Bamenyam. People are called 'Bali'. Different from three languages in Zaïre called 'Bali', Bali of Nigeria, or Bali which is a dialect of Chamba of Nigeria and Cameroon, although many of these people have Chamba ethnic origins. Related to Baba. 25% to 50% literate. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1961. NT 1933. Bible portions 1929-1952.

NDA'NDA' (BAMILEKE-NDA'NDA') [NNZ] 10,000 or more (1984 ALCAM). Straddling Upper Nkam (east of Bana), Nde (north and west of Bangante), and Mifi (south of Bangou) divisions, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: UNDIMEHA (EAST NDA'NDA), UNGAMEHA (WEST NDA'NDA'-SOUTH NDA'NDA'). 15% to 25% literate. Survey needed.

NGIEMBOON (NGUEMBA, NGYEMBOON, BAMILEKE-NGYEMBOON) [NNH] 100,000 (1987 SIL). Batcham Subdivision and in Balatchi in western Mbouda Subdivision, Bamboutos Division; north of Penka-Michel, Menoua Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: BATCHAM, BALATCHI, BAMOUNGONG. Distinct from Ngemba. 25% to 50% literate. Bible portions 1984. Work in progress.

NGOMBA (NDAA, NDA'A, BAMILEKE-NGOMBA) [NNO] 10,000 to 20,000 (1994 SIL). Southeast of Mbouda, southern Mbouda Subdivision, Bamboutos Division, West Province. 5 villages; each a separate dialect. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: BAMENDJINDA, BAMENKUMBO, BAMESSO, BABETE (BAMETE), BAMENDJO. Dialect speakers appear to understand each other well; Bamendjinda, Bamesso, and Bamenkumbo are the most similar. Nda'a is their name for themselves. Ngomba is used by all in the 5 towns in all domains. Interest expressed in language development. Church languages are Ngomba, French, Ngyembong, Medumba, or Bafunda. Bafounda is a separate town and language (see Ghomala), but ethnically Nda'a. Distinct from Ngumba in the Maka-Njem group. 15% to 25% literate. Work in progress.

NGOMBALE (BAMILEKE-NGOMBALE) [NLA] 45,000 (1993 SIL). Northwest of Mbouda, northern Mbouda Subdivision, Bamboutos Division, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: BABADJOU (BASSO, NCHOBELA), BAMESSINGUE (BASSING). Ngombale is used in all domains, including church. Interest expressed in language development. Many adults are reported to be bilingual in Ngomba and Ngyemboon, and young people in French. 15% to 25% literate. Traders. Traditional religion, Christian. Survey needed.

NGWE (NWE, FONTEM, FOTO, FONGONDENG, FOMOPEA, BAMILEKE-NGWE) [NWE] 50,000 (1992 SIL). Most of Fontem Subdivision, Manyu Division, South West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Part of a language continuum which includes Yemba and Ngyemboon. Survey needed.

YEMBA (TCHANG, DSCHANG, BAFOU, ATSANG-BANGWA, BANGWA, BAMILEKE-YEMBA) [BAN] 300,000 or more (1992 SIL). Major part of Menoua Division, centered around Dschang, West Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke. Dialects: YEMBA, FOREKE DSCHANG (DSCHANG, TCHANG). Part of a language continuum which includes Ngwe and Ngyemboon. 15% to 25% literate. Work in progress.