BEM ISO 639-3
Bemba
IciBemba Autonym
A language of Zambia
- ISO 639
- bem
- Alternate Names
- Chibemba, Chiwemba, Cibemba, Ichibemba, Wemba
- Autonym
- IciBemba
- Population
- 3,810,000 in Zambia (2010 census), decreasing. 3,730,000 Bemba, 12,800 Chishinga, 37,900 Kabende, 15,000 Lunda, 1,680 Mukulu, 11,500 Unga (2010 census). Ethnic population: 2,890,000 (2010 census). 2,630,000 Bemba, 64,400 Chishinga, 45,000 Kabende, 119,000 Lunda, 5,130 Mukulu, 24,900 Unga (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 4,110,000.
- Location:
- Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern provinces; possibly Copperbelt province.
- Language Status
- 2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in North, Copperbelt, and Luapula provinces. Town Bemba is a widely used lingua franca in urban areas, with higher social status than other languages except English [eng], and is used for educational and administrative purposes.
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, M, Bemba (M.42)
- Dialects
- Lembue, Lomotua (Lomotwa), Ngoma, Nwesi, Town Bemba, Lunda (Luapula), Chishinga, Kabende, Mukulu, Ng’umbo, Twa of Bangweulu, Unga. Town Bemba has a Bemba base with heavy code mixing with English and neighboring Bantu languages.
- Typology
- SVO.
- Language Use
- Used by all. Positive attitudes.
- Language Development
- Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1956–2003.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Bemba
- Writing
- Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
- Other Comments
- Traditional religion, Christian.
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Haut-Katanga province: east.
- Dialects
- Lembue, Lomotua (Lomotwa), Ngoma, Nwesi, Shila.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Distinct from Bembe [bmb] of Sud-Kivu Province as well as Beembe [beq] (Bembe) of Congo (Brazzaville). Possibly in Zimbabwe. Traditional religion, Christian. View other languages of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Language Name
Bemba
User Population
300,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000).
Map
Location: Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern provinces; possibly Copperbelt province.
Size and Vitality
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