Languages of Cameroon
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Cameroon is home to at least 250 languages,[1][2] with some accounts reporting around 600.Cite error: A <ref>
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(see the help page).
Official languages[edit]
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Literacy in French for individuals of age 12 and above rose from 41.3% to 57.6%[6] between 1987 and 2005 while that of English rose from 13.4% to 25.3%.[7] The global proportion of individuals literate in official languages has thus markedly increased between 1987 and 2005, rising from 53.3% to 71.2%.[8]
In 2005, the probability to be literate in French while being anglophone was 0.46 while that of being literate in English while being francophone was 0.20, resulting from the predominant status of the French language in Cameroon as a whole.
Indigenous languages[edit]
Most of the 260 languages spoken in Cameroon are indigenous languages. With a population estimated in 25 million people, UNESCO classified the country as a distinctive cultural density. The National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon reported that four percent of the indigenous languages have disappeared since 1950. Currently, ten percent of them are neglected, and seven percent of them are considered as threatened.[9]
Ethnologue[edit]
The following list of languages in Cameroon is mostly based from Ethnologue.
ALCAM (2012)[edit]
The Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM, or "Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon") lists about 250 languages in Cameroon. The list is provided below.[170]
Classification[edit]
The 2012 edition of the Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) provides the following classification of the Niger–Congo languages of Cameroon.[170]
- Adamawa
- Samba
- Daka
- Kobo-Dii (Vere-Duru)
- North: Doyayo, Longto
- South: Peere
- Mumuye
- Mbum
- North: Tupuri, Mundang, Mambay
- South: Mbum, Pana, Kali-Dek, Kuo, Gbete, Pam, Ndai
- Fali: North, South
- Nimbari
- Ubangian
- Gbaya; Bangando
- Baka
- Benue-Congo
- Jukunoid: Mbembe, Njukun, Kutep, Uuhum-Gigi, Busua, Bishuo, Bikya, Kum, Beezen Nsaa
- Cross River: Korop; Efik
- Bendi: Boki
- Bantoid (see below)
- Bantoid
- Mambiloid: Njoyame, Nizaa, Mambila, Kwanja, Bung, Kamkam, Vute
- Tivoid: Njwande, Tiv, Iyive, Iceve, Evand, Ugare, Esimbi, Batomo, Assumbo, Eman, Caka, Ihatum, Amasi
- Ekoid: Ejagham
- Nyang: Denya, Kendem, Kenyang
- Beboid
- Western: Naki, Bu, Misong, Koshin, Muŋgɔŋ, Cuŋ
- Eastern: Bebe, Kemezuŋ, Ncane, Nsari, Noone, Busuu, Bishuo, Bikya
- Grassfield (see below)
- Bantu (see below)
- Grassfield
- Western
- Momo
- Ngwɔ, Widikum
- Menchum
- Modele, Befang
- Ring
- West: Aghem
- Central: Mmen
- East: Lamnso'
- South: Kənswei Nsei, Niemeng, Vəŋo, Wushi
- Momo
- Eastern
- Ngemba: Bafut, Mundum, Mankon, Bambili, Nkwen, Pinyin
- Bamileke-Central: Ngomable, New; Kwa', Ghomala', Fe'fe', Nda'nda'
- Noun: Mamenyan, Shüpamem, Bangolan, Cirambo, Bamali, Bafanji, Mungaka, Medumba
- Northern: Limbum, Dzodinka, Yamba, Mbe', Central Mfumte, Southern Mfumte
- Bantu
- Jarawan: Ngoŋ-Nagumi, Mboŋa
- Mbam (see below)
- Equatorial: A, B, C, D (partial) (see below)
- Zambeze: D (partial), E, F, G, H ,I, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S
- Mbam
- ex-A40b
- Ndemli, Tikari
- Ninyoo, Tunan, Nomande, Atomp
- Nigi
- Bati
- ex-A60
- Yambasa: Nugunu, Nuasua, Nubaca, Dumbula
- Sanaga: Tuki
- Equatorial Bantu
- North
- A
- Bafia (A50): Təbɛya, Lefa', Dimboŋ, Ripɛy, Rikpa
- B
- Coastal
- A10: Oroko (West, East dialects), Lifɔ'-Balɔŋ, Nsose, Akoose
- A20: Bakɔlɛ, Wumbuko, Mokpwe, Isu, Bubia; Duala
- A30: Yasa, Batanga
- Basaa-Beti (A40, A70): Bankon, Basaa, Bakoko; Bəti-Faŋ, Bəmbələ, Bəbil
- Meka (A80): Məkaa, Sɔ, Bikele, Kwasio, Bagyɛli, Kɔɔzime, Mpo
- Kakɔ (A90): Polri, Kwakum, Kakɔ
- Coastal
- A
- South: B, C, D (partial)
See also[edit]
- Demographics of Cameroon
- General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages
- Francophone Africa
- Cameroonian Pidgin English
References[edit]
- ^ "Ethnologue: Languages of the World".
- ^ Kouega, Jean-Paul (2007). "The Language Situation in Cameroon". Current Issues in Language Planning. 8 (1): 3–94. doi:10.2167/cilp110.0. S2CID 143923073.
- ^ a b "Troisième RGPH (2005) - Alphabétisation". Bucrep.cm (in French). p. 220. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
- ^ Tanang Tchouala, Patrice; Efon Etinzoh, Hervé Joël. Les dynamiques démolinguistiques au Cameroun de 1960 à 2005 : un éclairage à travers les données des recensements (PDF) (Report). ODSEF. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
- ^ "Analyse Thématique". Bureau Central des Recensements et des Etudes de Population (in French). Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
- ^ Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:13)
- ^ Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:12)
- ^ Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:56)
- ^ Kindzeka, Moki Edwin (2020-02-21). "How Cameroon Plans to Save Disappearing Languages". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2023-06-11.
- ^ "Aghem". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe "Language Representative Counts". people.umass.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Akoose". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ a b "Chadian Arabic". Ethnologue. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Atong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Awing". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Supapya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Babanki". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Bafanji". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bafaw-Balong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bafia". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bafut". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Baka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bakaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bakoko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Oroko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bamali". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bambalang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Bambili-Bambui". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bamenyam". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bamukumbit". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bamun". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bamunka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bana". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Bangolan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bankon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Barombi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Basaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bassossi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Beba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bebele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ a b "Elip". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Bulu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Bum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Buwal". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Byep". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Caka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Cuvok". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Daba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Denya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Dii". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Doyayo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Duala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Dugun". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Dugwor". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Duupa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Esimbi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Eton". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ewondo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Fe'fe'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Gavar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Gbaya-Mbodomo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Ghomálá'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Gidar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Gyele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Gimme". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Gimnime". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Hdi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Iceve-Maci". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Isu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Jimi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kako". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Karang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kemedzung". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kenswei Nsei". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Kenyang". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
- ^ "Kol". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kom". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Koonzime". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Kwasio". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kwakum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Kwanja". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Kuk". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "La'bi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Laimbue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Lefa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Limbum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Nchane". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Ngiemboon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ngomba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Giziga, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Mofu, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Mafa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Makaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Malgbe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mambai". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mambila, Cameroon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Manta". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Matal". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mazagway-Hidi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mbudum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mbo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mbum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mbuko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Medumba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mefele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mendankwe-Nkwen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Mengaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mengisa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Menka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Merey". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mesaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Meta'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mfumte". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Mmaala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mmen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mokpwe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mofu-Gudur". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Moloko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mpade". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mpumpong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mundani". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Musgu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Muyang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Nda'nda'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Ndemli". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Mungaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ngamambo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Ngemba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Ngie". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ngombale". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ngoshie". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Ngwo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Nomaande". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Noone". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Fali, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Lamnso'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Nugunu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Ngwe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Mubako". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Oku". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Parkwa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Pere". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Pinyin". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Pol". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Psikye". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Sari". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Sharwa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Swo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Fali, South". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "South Giziga". Ethnologue. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Nizaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Tikar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Mbembe, Tigon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Tupuri". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Tunen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Tuki". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Usaghade". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Vame". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Vengo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Vute". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Wandala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Weh". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Wushi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ "Wumboko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Wuzlam". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Yamba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Yambeta". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Yemba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Zulgo-Gemzek". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ a b Binam Bikoi, Charles, ed. (2012). Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) [Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon]. Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC) (in French). Vol. 1: Inventaire des langues. Yaoundé: CERDOTOLA. ISBN 9789956796069.
Sources[edit]
- DeLancey, Mark W.; DeLancey, Mark Dike (2000). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon. African Historical Dictionaries. Vol. 81 (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3775-7. OCLC 43324271.
- Neba, Aaron (1999). Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon (3rd ed.). Bamenda: Neba Publishers.
- Tanang, Patrice; Mimche, Honoré; Efon, Hervé (2014). "Dynamique des langues nationales et officielles au Cameroun de 1987 à 2005". Actes du XVIIe colloque international de l'AIDELF, Ouagadougou, novembre 2012 (PDF) (in French). ISBN 978-2-9521220-4-7.
External links[edit]
- Ethnologue page on Languages of Cameroon
- PanAfriL10n page on Cameroon
- Aménagement linguistique dans le monde - Cameroun
- Leinyui, Usmang Salle. n.d. "Bilingualism." TranslationDirectory.com (article focuses on Cameroon)
- Rosendal, Tove. 2008. "Multilingual Cameroon: Policy, Practice, Problems and Solutions." University of Gothenburg, Africana Informal Series, No. 7