Page Type: languageNgambay | Ethnologue

SBA ISO 639-3

Ngambay

Ngambay Autonym

A language of Chad

ISO 639
sba
Alternate Names
Gamba, Gambaye, Gamblai, Ngambai, Sara Ngambai, Sara-Ngambay
Autonym
Ngambay
Population
1,320,000 in Chad (2013 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 1,377,000.
Location:
Logone Occidental region; Logone Oriental region: Lanya department, Bébedjia; La Nya Pendé department, Goré subprefecture; Mayo-Kebbi Ouest region: Mayo-Dallah department; Mayo-Kebbi Est and Tandjilé regions; centered in Moundou area.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Central Sudanic, West, Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper
Dialects
Lara, Benoye, Murum (Mouroum), Kere, Bemar (Daba de Goré). Some consider Laka [lap] to be a dialect of Ngambay.
Language Use
Largest language of the Sara-Bagirmi group.
Language Development
Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1993.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ngambay
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Ngambay
User Population
57,000 in Cameroon (2005 SIL). Based on the actual population of the subdivisions where the Ngambay people are present, as of the official 2005 census (2014 C. Hamm).
Location
North region: Bénoué division, Garoua; Mayo-Rey division, Mandingring and Rey-Bouba subdivisions, Chad border area east of Tcholliré; all along route to Garoua.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
View other languages of Cameroon

Map

Location: Logone Occidental region; Logone Oriental region: Lanya department, Bébedjia; La Nya Pendé department, Goré subprefecture; Mayo-Kebbi Ouest region: Mayo-Dallah department; Mayo-Kebbi Est and Tandjilé regions; centered in Moundou area.