Lamnso’ | Ethnologue

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639: lns
Alternate Names: Bansaw, Banso, Banso’, Lamnsok, Lamso, Nsaw, Nsho’, Nso, Nso’, Panso
Autonym: Lamnso’
Population: 240,000 (2005 SIL), increasing. 72,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 240,000.
Location:: North West region: Bui division, east Jakiri and Kumbo subdivisions, northeast of Bamenda, Kumbo area.
Language Status: 3 (Wider communication). Originated in the Bamenda Grassfields of northwest Cameroon. Used by speakers of many other languages.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Ring, East
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Some also use English [eng]. Some also use Oku [oku]. A few also use Limbum [lmp]. Used as L2 by Kemedzung [dmo], Kom [bkm], Limbum [lmp], Noone [nhu], Oku [oku], Wushi [bse].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Used informally in education. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2014.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Lamnso’
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Location: North West region: Bui division, east Jakiri and Kumbo subdivisions, northeast of Bamenda, Kumbo area.