List of endangered languages in Africa
An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language.
Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent. At about 30.2 million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.[1] With about 922 million people (as of 2005)[2] in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.2% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 53 countries, including Madagascar and all the island groups.
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ǂHõã language | 200 | ||
| Tsoa language | Also: Sarwa language | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
| Language | Comments | Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldemu language | North Cameroon. Shifting to Fulfulde. | 3 to 6 (2003 SIL) | |
| Bikya language | Speaker is a man in his seventies. | 1 (1986 R Breton) | |
| Bishuo language | 1 (1986 R Breton) | ||
| Bung language | 3 (1995 Connell) | ||
| Busuu language | 8 (1986 Breton) | ||
| Dama language | 50 | ||
| Luo Language | 1 | ||
| Ndai language | 5 | ||
| Ngong language | 2 (1983 Atlas Linguistique du Cameroun) | ||
| Oblo language | |||
| Pam language | 30 (2003 SIL) | ||
| Twendi language | 30 (2000 Connell) | ||
| Zumaya language | 25 (1987 SIL) | ||
| Bassa language | 230,000 (1987 SIL) |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodo language | 15 (1996) |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berakou language | 2 (1995 Djarangar). | ||
| Buso language | 40 (1971 Welmers). | ||
| Goundo language | 30 (1998). | ||
| Mabire language | 3 (2001 SIL). | ||
| Massalat language | 10 (1991 R Blench) | ||
| Noy language | 36 (1993 census). |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anfillo language | 500 | ||
| Birale language | 19 (2000 M Brenzinger) | ||
| Shabo language | 400-500 | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animere language | about 250 |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baga Koga language | |||
| Baga Mboteni language |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Molo language | Also: Elmolo language, Fura-Pawa language, Ldes language, Dehes language | 8 (1994 Larsen) 400 (2000 M Brenzinger). | |
| Ogiek language | Also: Akie language; Kinare language, Okiek language | Red Book of Endangered Languages | |
| Omotik language | 50 (1980) | ||
| Yaaku language | 50 (1983) | ||
| Suba language | 100,000 (1992) | [1] |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenaga language |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| !Kung language | AQlso spoken in Angola. Alternate names: Kung-Ekoka language; Ekoka-!Xû language; Kung language; !Xu language; !Ku language; !Xu language; !Hu language; Qxü language; !Xun language; !Khung language; !Xung language; | 1,000 in Namibia | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
| Namibian Black German | German Pidgen spoken by Africans loyal to the German colonies. | Only several. Nearly Extinct. | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bassa-Kontagora language | 10 (1987) | ||
| Bete language | 50 (1992) | ||
| Fali of Baissa language | |||
| Defaka language | |||
| Kiong language | 100 (2004) | ||
| Kudu-Camo language | 42 (1990 Michael Bross) | ||
| Labir language | |||
| Lere language | |||
| Lufu language | |||
| Luri language (Nigeria) | 30 (1973 SIL) | ||
| Njerep language | 6 (2000 B Connell) | ||
| Odut language | 20 (1980s, from Blench 2000) | ||
| Putai language | 50 | ||
| Shau language | |||
| Somyev language | 15 to 20 (2000 Connell) | ||
| Vono language | Also: Kiballo language, Kiwollo language | Red Book of Endangered Languages | |
| Ziriya language |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karon language | Also spoken in Gambia. | Over 10,000 | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bom language | |||
| Bullom So language | Also spoken in Guinea |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boon language | 59 (2000 WCD) |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nǁng language | 10 (2003 Crawhall); 500 (1998 Nigel Crawhall, South African San Institute). | ||
| Tsotsitaal language | |||
| Xiri language | 87 (2000 WCD) |
| Language | Comments | No. Speakers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gweno language | Few (2000 M Brenzinger) 2,000 or more. | ||
| Ongamo language | Also: Ngasa language | Red Book of Endangered Languages |
Notes
- ^ Sayre, April Pulley. (1999) Africa, Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 0-7613-1367-2.
- ^ "World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision" United Nations (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, population division)