Languages of Cameroon
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Cameroon |
---|
History |
People |
Languages |
Mythology |
Cuisine |
Religion |
Art |
Literature |
Music |
Sport |
Cameroon is a Francophone and Anglophone country, and in 2023, French is spoken by 11.8 million people out of 28.7 million (41.17%).[1]
The nation strives toward bilingualism, but in reality very few (11.6%) Cameroonians are literate in both French and English, and 28.8% are literate in neither.[2] The government has established several bilingual schools in an effort to teach both languages more evenly; however, in reality most of these schools separate the anglophone and francophone sections and therefore do not provide a true bilingual experience.[3] Cameroon is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie. German, the country's official language during the German colonial period until World War I, has nowadays almost entirely yielded to its two successors. However, as a foreign language subject German still enjoys huge popularity among pupils and students, with 300,000 people learning or speaking German in Cameroon in 2010. Today, Cameroon is one of the African countries with the highest number of people with knowledge of German.[4]
Most people in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest provinces speak Cameroonian Pidgin English, also called Kamtok, as a lingua franca.[5] Fulfulde serves the same function in the north, and Ewondo in much of the Center, South, and East provinces.[6] Camfranglais (or Frananglais) is a relatively new pidgin communication form emerging in urban areas and other locations where Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonians meet and interact. Popular singers have used the hybrid language and added to its popularity.[7]
Education for the deaf in Cameroon uses American Sign Language, introduced by the deaf American missionary Andrew Foster.[citation needed]
In the late 19th century, the Bamum script was developed by Sultan Ibrahim Njoya to write the Bamum (Shüpamom) language.[8]
Official languages[edit]
|
|
|
|
Literacy in French for individuals of age 12 and above rose from 41.3% to 57.6%[11] between 1987 and 2005 while that of English rose from 13.4% to 25.3%.[12] The global proportion of individuals literate in official languages has thus markedly increased between 1987 and 2005, rising from 53.3% to 71.2%.[13]
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.[14]
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.[175]
Code | Language name | French spelling | Other names | Classification |
---|---|---|---|---|
001 | Fulfulde | Fulfulde | Senegambian | |
002 | Kanuri | Kanuri | Saharan | |
003 | Sara | Sara | Central Sudanic | |
004 | Pidgin English | Pidgin-English | creole | |
005 | Arabic | Arabe | Semitic | |
101 | Hausa | Hausa | West Chadic | |
102 | Gedar | Gédar | Central Chadic | |
103 | Munjuk | Munjuk | Central Chadic | |
104 | Yedina | Yedina | Central Chadic | |
105 | Kera | Kera | East Chadic | |
111 | Wandala | Wandala | Central Chadic | |
112 | Gelvaldaxa | Gélvaldaxa | Central Chadic | |
113 | Parekwa | Parékwa | Central Chadic | |
121 | Gevoko | Gévoko | Central Chadic | |
122 | Hdi | Hdi | Central Chadic | |
123 | Mabas | Mabas | Central Chadic | |
131 | Pelasla | Pélasla | Central Chadic | |
132 | Mbuko | Mbuko | Central Chadic | |
140 | Matal | Matal | Central Chadic | |
151 | Wuzlam | Wuzlam | Central Chadic | |
152 | Muyang | Muyang | Central Chadic | |
153 | Mada | Mada | Central Chadic | |
154 | Melokwo | Mélokwo | Central Chadic | |
161 | Zelgwa Minew | Zélgwa Minew | Central Chadic | |
162 | Dugwor | Dugwor | Central Chadic | |
163 | Merey | Merey | Central Chadic | |
164 | Gemzek | Gemzek | Central Chadic | |
171 | Giziga | Giziga | Central Chadic | |
173 | Mofu-Duvangar | Mofu-Duvangar | Mofou-Nord | Central Chadic |
174 | Mofu-Gudur | Mofu-Gudur | Mofou-Sud | Central Chadic |
175 | Baldamu | Baldamu | Central Chadic | |
181 | Cuvok | Cuvok | Central Chadic | |
182 | Mefele | Mefele | Central Chadic | |
183 | Mafa | Mafa | Central Chadic | |
191 | Psikya | Psikyá | Central Chadic | |
192 | Hya | Hya | Central Chadic | |
193 | Bana | Bana | Central Chadic | |
211 | Jimjimen | Jimjimén | Central Chadic | |
212 | Gude | Gude | Central Chadic | |
213 | Ziziliveken | Zizilivékén | Central Chadic | |
214 | Sharwa | Sharwa | Central Chadic | |
215 | Tsuvan | Tsuvan | Central Chadic | |
220 | Njanyi | Njanyi | Central Chadic | |
230 | Gbwata | Gbwata | Central Chadic | |
240 | Buwal–Gavar | Buwal–Gavar | Central Chadic | |
251 | Besleri | Besleri | Central Chadic | |
252 | Daba | Daba | Central Chadic | |
253 | Mazagway Hide | Mazagway Hide | Central Chadic | |
254 | Mbedam | Mbédam | Central Chadic | |
261 | Jina | Jina | Central Chadic | |
262 | Majera | Majéra | Central Chadic | |
271 | Lagwan | Lagwan | Central Chadic | |
272 | Mser | Msér | Central Chadic | |
281 | Afade | Afadé | Central Chadic | |
282 | Maslam | Maslam | Central Chadic | |
283 | Malgbe | Malgbe | Central Chadic | |
284 | Mpade | Mpadé | Central Chadic | |
291 | Masa | Masa | Masa | |
292 | Zumaya | Zumaya | Masa | |
293 | Musey | Musey | Masa | |
294 | Zime | Zime | Masa | |
300 | Samba | Samba | Samba | |
301 | Longto | Lóñtó | Vere-Duru | |
302 | Paare | Pááre | Páárá | Vere-Duru |
303 | Doayo | Doayo | Doyayo | Vere-Duru |
304 | Tupuri | Tupuri | Mbum | |
305 | Mundang | Mundañ | Mbum | |
306 | Mambay | Mambay | Mbum | |
307 | Dama | Dama | Mbum | |
308 | Mono | Mono | Mbum | |
309 | Baka | Baka | Ubangian | |
311 | Kobo | Kobo | Vere-Duru | |
312 | Koma Ndera | Koma Ndera | Vere-Duru | |
321 | Gimnime | Gímníme | Vere-Duru | |
322 | Kompana | Kompana | Vere-Duru | |
330 | Duupa | Duupa | Vere-Duru | |
341 | Dugun | Dugun | Vere-Duru | |
342 | Dii | Dii | Vere-Duru | |
343 | Kolbila | Kolbila | Vere-Duru | |
351 | Mbum | Mbum | Mbum | |
352 | Karang | Karang | Mbum | |
353 | Pana | Pana | Mbum | |
354 | Kali-Dek | Kali-Dek | Mbum | |
355 | Kuo | Kuo | Mbum | |
356 | Gbata | Gbátá | Mbum | |
361 | Pam | Pam | Mbum | |
362 | Ndai | Ndai | Mbum | |
371 | Fali, Northern | Fali-Nord | Fali | |
372 | Fali, Southern | Fali-Sud | Fali | |
381 | Gbaya | Gbaya | Ubangian | |
382 | Bangandu | Bangandu | Bangando | Adamawa |
391 | Gey | Gey | Adamawa | |
392 | Duli | Duli | Adamawa | |
393 | Nimbari | Nimbari | Adamawa | |
394 | Oblo | Oblo | Adamawa | |
395 | Mome | Mome | Adamawa | |
401 | Basaa | Basaa | Bantu | |
402 | Bakoko | Bakoko | Bantu | |
403 | Beti–Fang | Béti–Fañ | Bantu | |
404 | Bembele | Bémbélé | Bantu | |
405 | Bebil | Bébil | Bantu | |
406 | Bankon | Bankon | Barombi | Bantu |
411 | Meka | Méka | Mékaa | Bantu |
412 | So | Só | Só' | Bantu |
413 | Bikele | Bikele | Bantu | |
421 | Kwasio | Kwasio | Bantu | |
422 | Bagyali | Bagyáli | Bagyeli | Bantu |
431 | Mpo | Mpo | Bantu | |
432 | Koozime | Kóózime | Bantu | |
440 | Kako | Kakó | Bantu | |
462 | Polri | Polri | Bantu | |
463 | Kwakum | Kwakum | Bantu | |
501 | Tikari | Tikari | Tikar | Bantu |
502 | Ndemli | Ndemli | Bantu | |
511 | Tunan | Tunán | Bantu | |
512 | Nomande | Nomande | Nómaande | Bantu |
513 | Atomp | Atómp | Bantu | |
514 | Ninyo'o | Ninyó'ó | Bantu | |
520 | Nigi | Nigi | Bantu | |
530 | Bati | Bati | Bantu | |
541 | Nugunu | Nugunu | Bantu | |
542 | Nuasua | Nuasuá | Nuaswá | Bantu |
543 | Nubaca | Nubaca | Bantu | |
544 | Dumbula | Dumbulá | Bantu | |
550 | Tuki | Tuki | Bantu | |
570 | Tebaya | Tébáya | Bantu | |
581 | Lefa' | Léfa' | Bantu | |
582 | Dembong | Démbóñ | Dimbóñ | Bantu |
583 | Ripay | Rípáy | Bantu | |
584 | Rikpa | Ríkpa' | Bantu | |
601 | Yasa | Yasa | Bantu | |
602 | Batanga | Batanga | Bantu | |
610 | Duala | Duala | Bantu | |
621 | Mokpwe | Mokpwe | Bantu | |
622 | Wumboko | Wumboko | Bantu | |
623 | Bubia | Bubia | Bantu | |
624 | Isu | Isu | Bantu | |
625 | Bakola | Bakólá | Bantu | |
630 | Oroko | Oroko | Bantu | |
640 | Lifo-Balong | Lifó-Baloñ | Bantu | |
651 | Mbo | Mbo | Bantu | |
652 | Akoosa | Akóósá | Bantu | |
653 | Nsosa | Nsósá | Bantu | |
701 | Njukun | Njukun | Jukunoid | |
702 | Kutep | Kutep | Jukunoid | |
703 | Uuhum-Gigi | Uuhum-Gigi | Yukubenic | |
704 | Korop | Korop | Cross River | |
705 | Efik | Efik | Cross River | |
706 | Boki | Boki | Bendi | |
707 | Akum | Akum | Cross River | |
708 | Baazen Nsaa | Báázen Nsaa | Báázán Nsaa | Yukubenic |
709 | Mbembe | Mbembe | Cross River | |
710 | Mambila | Mambila | Mambiloid | |
720 | Vute | Vúte | Mambiloid | |
730 | Nizaa | Nizåå | Mambiloid | |
741 | Kwanja | Kwanja | Mambiloid | |
742 | Bung | Buñ | Mambiloid | |
743 | Kamkam | Kamkam | Mambiloid | |
750 | Njoyama | Njóyamá | Njoyame | Mambiloid |
760 | Twendi | Twendi | Mambiloid | |
780 | Njanga | Njanga | Mambiloid | |
791 | Yeni | Yeni | Mambiloid | |
792 | Kasabe | Kasabe | Mambiloid | |
793 | Luo | Luo | Mambiloid | |
801 | Njwanda | Njwandá | Njwande | Tivoid |
802 | Tiv | Tiv | Tivoid | |
803 | Esimbi | Esimbi | Tivoid | |
804 | Amasi | Amasi | Manta | Tivoid |
805 | Njen | Njen | Momo | |
806 | Mbonga | Mbóña | Jarawan | |
807 | Ngong-Nagumi | Ngoñ-Nagumi | Jarawan | |
808 | Ejagham | Ejagham | Jarawan | |
810 | Aghem | Aghem | Ekoid | |
821 | Mman | Mmán | Ring | |
822 | Itangikom | Itangikom | Kom | Ring |
823 | Bum | Bum | Ring | |
824 | Babanki | Babanki | Ring | |
825 | Ebkuo | Ebkuo | Ébkuó | Ring |
830 | Lamnso' | Lamnsó' | Ring | |
841 | Kenswei Nsei | Kénswei Nsei | Ring | |
842 | Niemeng | Niemeng | Ring | |
843 | Vengo | Véño | Ring | |
844 | Wushi | Wushi | Ring | |
851 | Befang | Befang | Menchum | |
852 | Modele | Modele | Menchum | |
861 | Ngwo | Ngwó | Momo | |
862 | Basa | Basa | Momo | |
863 | Konda | Konda | Momo | |
864 | Widikum | Widikum | Momo | |
865 | Menka | Menka | Momo | |
866 | Ambele | Ambele | Momo | |
867 | Mundani | Mundani | Momo | |
868 | Ngamambo | Ngamambo | Momo | |
869 | Busam | Busam | Momo | |
871 | Bebe | Bebe | East Beboid | |
872 | Kemezung | Kémézuñ | East Beboid | |
873 | Ncane | Ncane | East Beboid | |
874 | Nsari | Nsari | East Beboid | |
875 | Noone | Nóóné | East Beboid | |
876 | Naki | Naki | West Beboid | |
877 | Bu | Bu | West Beboid | |
878 | Missong | Missong | West Beboid | |
879 | Koshin | Koshin | West Beboid | |
881 | Kenyang | Kenyang | Nyang | |
882 | Denya | Denya | Nyang | |
883 | Kendem | Kendem | Nyang | |
885 | Mungong | Muñgóñ | West Beboid | |
886 | Cung | Cuñ | West Beboid | |
887 | Busuu | Busuu | West Beboid | |
888 | Bishuo | Bishuó | West Beboid | |
889 | Bikya | Bikya | West Beboid | |
891 | Ugare | Ugaré | Tivoid | |
892 | Batomo | Batomo | Tivoid | |
893 | Caka | Caka | Tivoid | |
894 | Iyive | Iyive | Tivoid | |
895 | Iceve | Iceve | Tivoid | |
896 | Evand | Evand | Tivoid | |
897 | Asumbo | Asumbo | Tivoid | |
898 | Eman | Eman | Tivoid | |
899 | Ihatum | Ihatum | Tivoid | |
901 | Kwa' | Kwa' | Kwa | Eastern Grassfields |
902 | Mengambo | Méñgambo | Eastern Grassfields | |
903 | Limbum | Limbum | Eastern Grassfields | |
904 | Dzodinka | Dzodinka | Eastern Grassfields | |
905 | Nda'nda' | Nda'nda' | Eastern Grassfields | |
906 | Yamba | Yamba | Eastern Grassfields | |
907 | Mbe' | Mbé' | Eastern Grassfields | |
911 | Mundum | Mundum | Eastern Grassfields | |
912 | Bafut | Bafut | Eastern Grassfields | |
913 | Mankon | Mankon | Eastern Grassfields | |
914 | Bambili | Bambili | Eastern Grassfields | |
915 | Nkwan-Mendankwe | Nkwán-Mendankwe | Nkwen-Mendankwe | Eastern Grassfields |
916 | Pinyin | Pinyin | Eastern Grassfields | |
917 | Awing | Awing | Eastern Grassfields | |
920 | Ngombale | Ngombale | Eastern Grassfields | |
930 | Megaka | Mégaka | Eastern Grassfields | |
940 | Ngomba | Ngomba | Eastern Grassfields | |
951 | Ngyamboong | Ngyámbóóñ | Eastern Grassfields | |
952 | Yemba | Yemba | Eastern Grassfields | |
953 | Ngwe | Ñwe | Eastern Grassfields | |
960 | Ghomala' | Ghómala' | Eastern Grassfields | |
970 | Fe'fe' | Fe'fe' | Eastern Grassfields | |
980 | Mfumte | Mfumte | Eastern Grassfields | |
991 | Shüpamom | Shüpamom | Shü Pamém | Eastern Grassfields |
992 | Bangolan | Bangolan | Eastern Grassfields | |
993 | Mboyakum | Mboyakum | Cirambo | Eastern Grassfields |
994 | Ngoobechop | Ngoobechop | Bamali | Eastern Grassfields |
995 | Chuufi | Chuufi | Bafanji | Eastern Grassfields |
996 | Mungaka | Mungaka | Eastern Grassfields\
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Sources[edit]
External links[edit]
|