Page Type: languagePagibete | Ethnologue

PAE ISO 639-3

Pagibete

Pagabete Autonym

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639
pae
Alternate Names
Apagibete, Apagibeti, Apakabeti, Apakibeti, Pakabete
Autonym
Pagabete
Population
28,000 (2000 SIL). 6,000 Momveda, 4,500 Mongbapele.
Location:
Mongala province: Bumba territory; Nord-Ubangi province: Businga and Yakoma territories. Nord-Ubangi province: along road south of Businga (Mongbapele dialect); Nord-Ubangi province: Yakoma territory, Butu, around Ngakpo on Dua river north side, across from Gumba (Momveda dialect); Mongala province: north Bumba territory, south of Butu and at Ndundu-Sana (Ndundusana dialect).
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Ngombe (C.401)
Dialects
Momveda, Mongbapele, Ndundusana (Egejo, Egezo, Egezon, Gezon). Lexical similarity: Ndundusana dialect 90% with Momveda and Mongbapele dialects; Momveda and Mongbapele has 80%, and Ndundusana dialect has 85% with Bwa [bww]. Dialects have 60%–75% with Kango [kzy], 60%–65% with Ngelima [agh], 55%–60% with Lika [lik], 46% with Komo [kmw], 40%–45% with Bali [bcp], 35%–40% with Ngombe [ngc] and Budza [bja], 30% with Lingala [lin].
Language Use
Vigorous in most families. 20% of Pagibete men marry speakers of other languages, and those women are pressured to learn it. Children of women who marry men from other languages speak it when visiting Pagibete villages. All domains. Positive attitudes. Some also use Ngombe [ngc], mostly through intermarriage. Some also use Northern Ngbandi [ngb], mostly through intermarriage. Also use French [fra]. Also use Lingala [lin]. Used as L2 by Ngombe [ngc].
Language Development
400 can read, 50 can write. About 5% have some secondary education with varying proficiency in French [fra]. NT: 2020.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pagibete
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Mongala province: Bumba territory; Nord-Ubangi province: Businga and Yakoma territories. Nord-Ubangi province: along road south of Businga (Mongbapele dialect); Nord-Ubangi province: Yakoma territory, Butu, around Ngakpo on Dua river north side, across from Gumba (Momveda dialect); Mongala province: north Bumba territory, south of Butu and at Ndundu-Sana (Ndundusana dialect).