Nyaneka | Ethnologue

A language of Angola

ISO 639: nyk
Alternate Names: Lunyaneka, Nhaneca, Nhaneka
Autonym: Olunyaneka
Population: 1,000,000 (2018).
Location:: Mainly Huíla and Namibe provinces; also Benguela and Cunene provinces.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Umbundu (R.13)
Dialects: Humbe, Mwila (Huila, Muila, Olumuila), Ngambwe (Olungambwe), Handa, Cilenge, Nyaneka. Nyaneka seems to be a cluster of related but distinct varieties. Nkumbi [khu] is probably part of this cluster too, more closely related to the Handa and Humbe dialects. The cluster is sometimes called Nyaneka-Humbi. Speakers of Humbe and Cilenge have difficulty understanding one another. Lexical similarity: Mwila 79% with Nyaneka, 74% with Ngambwe, 65% with Handa; Nyaneka 80% with Ngambwe, 76% with Handa; Ngambwe 68% with Handa. Humbe 74% with Cilenge.
Language Use: High vitality across the whole language area (2013 SIL). Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Kung-Ekoka [knw], Kwandu [xdo].
Language Development: 2011: Soon will be used in primary education. TV. Texts. NT: 2005.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Nyaneka
Writing: Latin script [Latn], developed in 2008.
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Mainly Huíla and Namibe provinces; also Benguela and Cunene provinces.