Mbum language
| Mbum | |
|---|---|
| West Mbum | |
| Native to | Cameroon, Central African Republic |
Native speakers | (51,000 cited 1982–1996)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | mdd |
| Glottolog | mbum1254 |
Mbum proper, or West Mbum, is an Adamawa language of Cameroon spoken by about 51,000 people. Speakers are mostly bilingual in Fulfulde. It is also known as Buna, Mboum, Mboumtiba, and Wuna.
History
The Mbum are considered the original population of the Adamawa Plateau in Cameroon. However, some histories recall that there were a people already in the area when they arrived there centuries ago. They have had a long and close relationship with the neighboring Dii people in the eastern parts of Adamawa Province to the extent that it is frequently difficult to make any distinction between the two. Their relationship with the Fulani, who entered the region in the early-19th century, is more complex. The Fulani are often perceived as a ruling class; nevertheless, the Mbum have historically participated actively in the states set up by the Fulani.
Varieties
Mbum is a complex dialect continuum consisting of several varieties. ALCAM (2012) considers Mbum, Larang, Pana and Gbata to be four distinct but closely related languages. Pana (also spoken in Chad), Karang, Kali-dek and Kuo are eastern varieties that may be separate languages.[2]
Blench (2006) considers Gbete to be a separate language.
Distribution
Mbum is spoken in:[2]
- Adamaoua Region
- Vina department (Ngaoundéré and Mbe districts)
- Djerem department (Ngaoundal and Tibati districts)
- Faro-et-Déo (Tignère districts)
- North Region
- Mayo-Rey (Touboro district)
- Faro department (Poli district)
There are 38,600 speakers in Cameroon (SIL 1962). It is also spoken in the Central African Republic (CAR). The total population in both Cameroon and CAR is estimated at 51,000 (SIL 1962).[2]
References
- ^ Mbum at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ a b c Binam Bikoi, Charles, ed. (2012). Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) [Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon]. Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC) (in French). Vol. Volume 1: Inventaire des langues. Yaoundé: CERDOTOLA. ISBN 9789956796069.
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- Roger Blench, 2004. List of Adamawa languages (ms)
External links
- A rapid appraisal survey of Gbete by Jason Diller & Kari Jordan-Diller, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-050.
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