Kwasio | Ethnologue

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639: nmg
Alternate Names: Kwassio
Autonym: Kwasio
Population: 9,000 in Cameroon (1982 SIL), increasing. Total users in all countries: 22,000.
Location:: South region: Océan division, Kribi and Lolodorf subdivisions, Kribi forests area; Kribi and Lolodorf areas.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.81)
Dialects: Mvumbo (Mekuk, Ngoumba, Ngumba), Mabi (Magbea). Dialects mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: high with Makaa [mcp], Njyem [njy], and Koonzime [ozm] and grammatically similar.
Language Use: Some churches use Kwasio exclusively; some use a mixture with French [fra]. All domains. Used by all, though many youth lose proficiency to French [fra]. Positive attitudes. All also use French [fra], especially in education, politics and media. Many also use Bulu [bum]. Some also use Gyele [gyi]. Used as L2 by Fang [fan], Gyele [gyi].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 75% in French [fra]. Radio. Grammar. Bible portions: 1957–2019.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kwasio
Writing: Latin script [Latn], used since 1930s, revised in 2011.
Other Comments: Distinct from Ngomba [jgo], which is in West Province. Christian.

Equatorial Guinea

Location: Litoral province: coastal Rio Muni, Bisio.
Dialects: Bisió.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments: One of 3 groups known as semi-playeros, who function well on the coast and in the jungle. Christian, traditional religion.

Location: South region: Océan division, Kribi and Lolodorf subdivisions, Kribi forests area; Kribi and Lolodorf areas.