Page Type: languageGhomálá’ | Ethnologue

BBJ ISO 639-3

Ghomálá’

Ghomálá’ Autonym

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639
bbj
Alternate Names
Baloum, Bamileke-Bandjoun, Bandjoun, Banjoun-Baham, Banjun, Batie, Mahum, Mandju, ghᴐmala’
Autonym
Ghomálá’
Population
350,000 (2005 SIL). Based on the actual population of the subdivisions where the Ghomala’ people are present, as of the official 2005 census (2014 C. Hamm).
Location:
West region: some in south Bamboutos division, east Menoua division, Mifi division except south and pockets north and west, Bamendjou subdivision.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke
Dialects
Ghomálá’ Central (Baham, Bandjoun, Hom, Jo, We, Yogam), Ghomálá’ North (Fusap, Lang), Ghomálá’ South (Dengkwop, Pa, Te), Ngemba (Bamenjou, Fu’da, Meka, Monjo, Mugum, Sa). Bameka, Bansoa, and Balessing are subvarieties of South Ghomálá’, North Ghomálá’ has 2 subvarieties, Central Ghomálá’ 4, and Ngemba 5.
Language Use
Taught informally to adults since the early 1900s. Adopted by UNESCO in 1960s as one of 9 languages of wider communication for Cameroon. Taught formally in 6 Roman Catholic schools since 1995. Most also use French [fra]. A few also use Bamun [bax]. A few also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. A few also use English [eng]. A few also use Medumba [byv]. Used as L2 by Fe’fe’ [fmp].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2002.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ghomálá’
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: West region: some in south Bamboutos division, east Menoua division, Mifi division except south and pockets north and west, Bamendjou subdivision.