Page Type: languageFa d’Ambu | Ethnologue

FAB ISO 639-3

Fa d’Ambu

Fa d’Ambu Autonym

A language of Equatorial Guinea

ISO 639
fab
Alternate Names
Annobonense, Annobonese, Annobonés, Fa d’Ambô
Autonym
Fa d’Ambu
Population
6,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 S. Smith). No monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 6,600.
Location:
Annobón province, isolated from mainland by 360 km of ocean; Bioko Norte province: Malabo; a few on continental Equatorial Guinea.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Creole, Portuguese based
Dialects
Different from Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe] and Crioulo [pov] of Guinea-Bissau and Kabuverdianu. Little variation between Annobonese in Annobón and Malabo. Lexical similarity: 63% with Sãotomense [cri]. 10% of the lexicon comes from Spanish [spa].
Typology
Possible vowel length; vowel harmony; tone sandhi.
Language Use
Vigorous use in Annobón and Malabo. All domains except government and education where Spanish [spa] is used. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Spanish [spa]. Many on Bioko learn it, but less so on Annobón; women on Annobón seem uncomfortable using it. Many also use Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe], especially those who live on Bioko island. A few also use Fang [fan]. Also use Portuguese [por], as a liturgical language by local Catholics.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Very low. Literacy rate in L2: 95% in Spanish [spa]. Grammar. Bible portions: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Fa d’Ambu
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 2008.
Other Comments
Famed swimmers, fishermen, and whalers. Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Annobón province, isolated from mainland by 360 km of ocean; Bioko Norte province: Malabo; a few on continental Equatorial Guinea.