FAN ISO 639-3
Fang
Fang Autonym
A language of Equatorial Guinea
- ISO 639
- fan
- Alternate Names
- Pahouin, Pamue, Pangwe
- Autonym
- Fang
- Population
- 624,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: 589,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2013 S. Smith), increasing. L2 users: 35,000 (2013 S. Smith). Total users in all countries: 1,096,800 (as L1: 1,061,800; as L2: 35,000).
- Location:
- Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces.
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as LWC in continental Equatorial Guinea (the area previously known as Rio Muni). Used in church, market, business, media, and music. It became a LWC by virtue of its dominant status as mother tongue of 85% of the country’s population.
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Ewondo-Fang (A.75)
- Dialects
- Ntumu, Okak. Intelligible with Bulu [bum] and Ewondo [ewo] in the Beti language subgroup. More similar to Bulu [bum] than Ewondo [ewo].
- Language Use
- All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Spanish [spa]. Many also use Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe], a language of urban identity for the young people in the capital and on Bioko island. Many also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Benga [bng], Bube [bvb], Fa d’Ambu [fab], Kombe [nui], Kwasio [nmg], Molengue [bxc], Seki [syi].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: Few read Fang. Literacy rate in L2: 77% in Spanish [spa]. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2014.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Fang
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn], used since 1995.
- Other Comments
- Known as warriors of the jungle. Their knowledge of jungle plants, animals, and survival is legendary. Christian, traditional religion.
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Sangha department.
- Dialects
- Make, Ntum (Ntumu), Ogowe.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Congo
Language Name
Fang
User Population
11,800 in Congo (2018).
- Location
- South region: southern part of Mvila (south of Ebolowa and Mvangan), Dja-and-Lobo division, south of Djoum; Vallée-du-Ntem division; Océan division, isolated locations between Lolodorf and Kribi towns, and east of Campo.
- Dialects
- Fang (Okak), Mvae (Mvan, Mvang, Mvay, Mveny), Ntoumou (Ntumu).
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Different from Fang [fak]. View other languages of Cameroon
Language Name
Fang
User Population
111,000 in Cameroon (2000).
- Location
- Mainly Estuaire and Woleu-Ntem provinces; Moyen-Ogooué province: Ogooué river and Ancien Founa areas; Ngounié province: most in Ancien Matica area; Ogooué-Ivindo province: Ivindo department.
- Dialects
- Meke (Make, Makina, Shiwa), Ntumu (Ntum), Mvai, Okak, Nzaman, Atsi.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed) View other languages of Gabon
Language Name
Fang
User Population
350,000 in Gabon (Idiata 2007).
Map
Location: Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces.
Size and Vitality
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