Page Type: languageMbala | Ethnologue

MDP ISO 639-3

Mbala

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639
mdp
Alternate Names
Gimbala, Rumbala
Population
200,000 (Nida 1972).
Location:
Kwilu province: Bulungu-Kikwit territory, Kipuka, Kwilu-Kimbata, and Luniungu sectors; Masi-Manimba territory, Bindungi, Kinzenga, Kitoy, Mokamo, Mosango, Pay-Kongila, and Sungu sectors.
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, H, Mbala-Hunganna (H.41)
Dialects
None known. Lexical similarity: 56% with Kwese [kws], 49% with Samba [smx], 47% with Hungana [hum], 46% with Phende [pem], 40% with Ngongo [noq].
Language Use
Also use Kituba [ktu].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1931–1968.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mbala
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Kwilu province: Bulungu-Kikwit territory, Kipuka, Kwilu-Kimbata, and Luniungu sectors; Masi-Manimba territory, Bindungi, Kinzenga, Kitoy, Mokamo, Mosango, Pay-Kongila, and Sungu sectors.