Misplaced Pages

Languages of Cameroon
Sign in Rumpi Hills in French and English
Official	French, English
National	55 Afro-Asiatic languages, 2 Nilo-Saharan languages, and 173 Niger–Congo languages
Signed	American Sign Language (Francophone African Sign Language)
Keyboard layout	QWERTY
Lingua franca(s)	French, English, Camfranglais, Cameroonian Pidgin English, Fulfulde, Chadian Arabic

Part of a series on the
Culture of Cameroon
History
People
Languages
Mythology
Cuisine
Religion
Art
Literature
Music
Media Cinema
Sport
Monuments World Heritage Sites
Symbols Flag Coat of arms National anthem
Cameroon portal
v t e

Cameroon is home to at least 250 languages, with some accounts reporting around 600. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, four Ubangian languages, and 169 Niger–Congo languages. This latter group comprises one Senegambian language (Fulfulde), 28 Adamawa languages, and 142 Benue–Congo languages (130 of which are Bantu languages). French and English are official languages, a heritage of Cameroon's colonial past as a colony of both France and the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1961. Eight out of the ten regions of Cameroon are primarily francophone and two are anglophone. The official percentage of French and English speakers is estimated by the Presidency of Cameroon to be 70% and 30% respectively.

Cameroon is a Francophone and Anglophone country, where, as of 2024, 11.957 million (41.17%) out of 29.124 million people speak French.

The nation strives toward bilingualism, but in reality very few (11.6%) Cameroonians are literate in both French and English, and 28.8% are literate in neither. The government has established several bilingual schools in an effort to teach both languages more evenly; however, in reality most of these schools separate the anglophone and francophone sections and therefore do not provide a true bilingual experience. Cameroon is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie. German, the country's official language during the German colonial period until World War I, has nowadays almost entirely yielded to its two successors. However, as a foreign language subject German still enjoys huge popularity among pupils and students, with 300,000 people learning or speaking German in Cameroon in 2010. Today, Cameroon is one of the African countries with the highest number of people with knowledge of German.

Most people in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest provinces speak Cameroonian Pidgin English, also called Kamtok, as a lingua franca. Fulfulde serves the same function in the north, and Ewondo in much of the Center, South, and East provinces. Camfranglais (or Frananglais) is a relatively new pidgin communication form emerging in urban areas and other locations where Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonians meet and interact. Popular singers have used the hybrid language and added to its popularity.

Education for the deaf in Cameroon uses American Sign Language, introduced by the deaf American missionary Andrew Foster.

There is little literature, radio, or television programming in native Cameroonian languages. Nevertheless, many Cameroonian languages have alphabets or other writing systems, many developed by the Christian missionary group SIL International, who have translated the Bible, Christian hymns, and other materials. The General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages was developed in the late 1970s as an orthographic system for all Cameroonian languages.

In the late 19th century, the Bamum script was developed by Sultan Ibrahim Njoya to write the Bamum (Shüpamom) language.

Official languages

Literacy in French for individuals of age 12 and above rose from 41.3% to 57.6% between 1987 and 2005 while that of English rose from 13.4% to 25.3%. The global proportion of individuals literate in official languages has thus markedly increased between 1987 and 2005, rising from 53.3% to 71.2%.

In 2005, the probability to be literate in French while being anglophone was 0.46 while that of being literate in English while being francophone was 0.20, resulting from the predominant status of the French language in Cameroon as a whole.

Indigenous languages

Most of the 260 languages spoken in Cameroon are indigenous languages. With a population estimated in 25 million people, UNESCO classified the country as a distinctive cultural density. The National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon reported that four percent of the indigenous languages have disappeared since 1950. Currently, ten percent of them are neglected, and seven percent of them are considered as threatened.

Ethnologue

The following list of languages in Cameroon is mostly based from Ethnologue.

ALCAM (2012)

The Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM, or "Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon") lists about 250 languages in Cameroon. The list is provided below.

Classification

The 2012 edition of the Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) provides the following classification of the Niger–Congo languages of Cameroon.

Adamawa

• Samba
• Daka
• Kobo-Dii (Vere-Duru)
  • North: Doyayo, Longto
  • South: Peere
• Mumuye
• Mbum
  • North: Tupuri, Mundang, Mambay
  • South: Mbum, Pana, Kali-Dek, Kuo, Gbete, Pam, Ndai
• Fali: North, South
• Nimbari

Ubangian

• Gbaya; Bangando
• Baka

Benue-Congo

• Jukunoid: Mbembe, Njukun, Kutep, Uuhum-Gigi, Busua, Bishuo, Bikya, Kum, Beezen Nsaa
• Cross River: Korop; Efik
• Bendi: Boki
• Bantoid (see below)

Bantoid

• Mambiloid: Njoyame, Nizaa, Mambila, Kwanja, Bung, Kamkam, Vute
• Tivoid: Njwande, Tiv, Iyive, Iceve, Evand, Ugare, Esimbi, Batomo, Assumbo, Eman, Caka, Ihatum, Amasi
• Ekoid: Ejagham
• Nyang: Denya, Kendem, Kenyang
• Beboid
  • Western: Naki, Bu, Misong, Koshin, Muŋgɔŋ, Cuŋ
  • Eastern: Bebe, Kemezuŋ, Ncane, Nsari, Noone, Busuu, Bishuo, Bikya
• Grassfield (see below)
• Bantu (see below)

Grassfield

• Western
  • Momo
    • Ngwɔ, Widikum
  • Menchum
    • Modele, Befang
  • Ring
    • West: Aghem
    • Central: Mmen
    • East: Lamnso'
    • South: Kənswei Nsei, Niemeng, Vəŋo, Wushi
• Eastern
  • Ngemba: Bafut, Mundum, Mankon, Bambili, Nkwen, Pinyin
  • Bamileke-Central: Ngomable, New; Kwa', Ghomala', Fe'fe', Nda'nda'
  • Noun: Mamenyan, Shüpamem, Bangolan, Cirambo, Bamali, Bafanji, Mungaka, Medumba
  • Northern: Limbum, Dzodinka, Yamba, Mbe', Central Mfumte, Southern Mfumte

Bantu

• Jarawan: Ngoŋ-Nagumi, Mboŋa
• Mbam (see below)
• Equatorial: A, B, C, D (partial) (see below)
• Zambeze: D (partial), E, F, G, H ,I, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S

Mbam

• ex-A40b
  • Ndemli, Tikari
  • Ninyoo, Tunan, Nomande, Atomp
  • Nigi
  • Bati
• ex-A60
  • Yambasa: Nugunu, Nuasua, Nubaca, Dumbula
  • Sanaga: Tuki

Equatorial Bantu

• North
  • A
    • Bafia (A50): Təbɛya, Lefa', Dimboŋ, Ripɛy, Rikpa
  • B
    • Coastal
      • A10: Oroko (West, East dialects), Lifɔ'-Balɔŋ, Nsose, Akoose
      • A20: Bakɔlɛ, Wumbuko, Mokpwe, Isu, Bubia; Duala
      • A30: Yasa, Batanga
    • Basaa-Beti (A40, A70): Bankon, Basaa, Bakoko; Bəti-Faŋ, Bəmbələ, Bəbil
    • Meka (A80): Məkaa, Sɔ, Bikele, Kwasio, Bagyɛli, Kɔɔzime, Mpo
    • Kakɔ (A90): Polri, Kwakum, Kakɔ
• South: B, C, D (partial)

See also

• Demographics of Cameroon
• General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages
• Francophone Africa
• Cameroonian Pidgin English

References

1. Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Estimation du nombre de francophones dans le monde [Estimation of number of French speakers worldwide] (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-20.
2. "Ethnologue: Languages of the World".
3. Kouega, Jean-Paul (2007). "The Language Situation in Cameroon". Current Issues in Language Planning. 8 (1): 3–94. doi:10.2167/cilp110.0. S2CID 143923073.
4. "What Languages are Spoken in Cameroon?". CETRA. 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
5. Neba (1999:65)
6. "Presentation of Cameroon". Presidency of the Republic: Republic of Cameroon. Retrieved 29 March 2023..
7. "Accueil-Francoscope". ODSEF (Observatoire démographique et statistique de l'espace francophone de l'Université Laval) (in French). Laval, Québec. Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
8. "Estimation du pourcentage et des effectifs de francophones (2023-03-15)". Francoscope. ODSEF. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
9. ^ "Troisième RGPH (2005) - Alphabétisation". Bucrep.cm (in French). p. 220. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
10. DeLancey & DeLancey (2000:51)
11. Bathe, Dirk (2010-11-29). Pape, Klaudia (ed.). "Deutsch für die Zukunft" (in German). DW.
12. DeLancey & DeLancey (2000:220)
13. DeLancey & DeLancey (2000:192)
14. DeLancey & DeLancey (2000:131)
15. DeLancey & DeLancey (2000:192)
16. Tanang Tchouala, Patrice; Efon Etinzoh, Hervé Joël. Les dynamiques démolinguistiques au Cameroun de 1960 à 2005 : un éclairage à travers les données des recensements (PDF) (Report). ODSEF. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
17. "Analyse Thématique". Bureau Central des Recensements et des Etudes de Population (in French). Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
18. Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:13)
19. Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:12)
20. Tanang, Mimche & Efon (2014:56)
21. Kindzeka, Moki Edwin (2020-02-21). "How Cameroon Plans to Save Disappearing Languages". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2023-06-11.
22. "Aghem". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
23. ^ "Language Representative Counts". people.umass.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
24. "Akoose". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
25. ^ "Chadian Arabic". Ethnologue. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
26. "Atong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
27. "Awing". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
28. "Supapya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
29. "Babanki". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
30. "Bafanji". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
31. "Bafaw-Balong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
32. "Bafia". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
33. "Bafut". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
34. "Baka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
35. "Bakaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
36. "Bakoko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
37. "Oroko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
38. "Bamali". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
39. "Bambalang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
40. "Bambili-Bambui". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
41. "Bamenyam". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
42. "Bamukumbit". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
43. "Bamun". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
44. "Bamunka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
45. "Bana". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
46. "Bangolan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
47. "Bankon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
48. "Barombi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
49. "Basaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
50. "Bassossi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
51. "Beba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
52. "Bebele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
53. ^ "Elip". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
54. "Bulu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
55. "Bum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
56. "Buwal". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
57. "Byep". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
58. "Caka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
59. "Cuvok". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
60. "Daba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
61. "Denya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
62. "Dii". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
63. "Doyayo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
64. "Duala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
65. "Dugun". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
66. "Dugwor". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
67. "Duupa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
68. "Esimbi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
69. "Eton". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
70. "Ewondo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
71. "Fe'fe'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
72. "Gavar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
73. "Gbaya-Mbodomo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
74. "Ghomálá'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
75. "Gidar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
76. "Gyele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
77. "Gimme". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
78. "Gimnime". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
79. "Hdi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
80. "Iceve-Maci". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
81. "Isu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
82. "Jimi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
83. "Kako". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
84. "Karang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
85. "Kemedzung". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
86. "Kenswei Nsei". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
87. "Kenyang". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
88. "Kol". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
89. "Kom". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
90. "Koonzime". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
91. "Kwasio". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
92. "Kwakum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
93. "Kwanja". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
94. "Kuk". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
95. "La'bi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
96. "Laimbue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
97. "Lefa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
98. "Limbum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
99. "Nchane". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
100. "Ngiemboon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
101. "Ngomba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
102. "Giziga, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
103. "Mofu, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
104. "Mafa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
105. "Makaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
106. "Malgbe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
107. "Mambai". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
108. "Mambila, Cameroon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
109. "Manta". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
110. "Matal". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
111. "Mazagway-Hidi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
112. "Mbudum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
113. "Mbo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
114. "Mbum". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
115. "Mbuko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
116. "Medumba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
117. "Mefele". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
118. "Mendankwe-Nkwen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
119. "Mengaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
120. "Mengisa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
121. "Menka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
122. "Merey". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
123. "Mesaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
124. "Meta'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
125. "Mfumte". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
126. "Mmaala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
127. "Mmen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
128. "Mokpwe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
129. "Mofu-Gudur". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
130. "Moloko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
131. "Mpade". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
132. "Mpumpong". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
133. "Mundani". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
134. "Musgu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
135. "Muyang". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
136. "Nda'nda'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
137. "Ndemli". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
138. "Mungaka". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
139. "Ngamambo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
140. "Ngemba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
141. "Ngie". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
142. "Ngombale". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
143. "Ngoshie". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
144. "Ngwo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
145. "Nomaande". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
146. "Noone". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
147. "Fali, North". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
148. "Lamnso'". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
149. "Nugunu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
150. "Ngwe". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
151. "Mubako". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
152. "Oku". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
153. "Parkwa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
154. "Pere". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
155. "Pinyin". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
156. "Pol". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
157. "Psikye". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
158. "Sari". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
159. "Sharwa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
160. "Swo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
161. "Fali, South". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
162. "South Giziga". Ethnologue. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
163. "Nizaa". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
164. "Tikar". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
165. "Mbembe, Tigon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
166. "Tupuri". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
167. "Tunen". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
168. "Tuki". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
169. "Usaghade". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
170. "Vame". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
171. "Vengo". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
172. "Vute". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
173. "Wandala". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
174. "Weh". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
175. "Wushi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
176. "Wumboko". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
177. "Wuzlam". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
178. "Yamba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
179. "Yambeta". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
180. "Yemba". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
181. "Zulgo-Gemzek". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
182. ^ Binam Bikoi, Charles, ed. (2012). Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) [Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon]. Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC) (in French). Vol. 1: Inventaire des langues. Yaoundé: CERDOTOLA. ISBN 9789956796069.

Sources

• DeLancey, Mark W.; DeLancey, Mark Dike (2000). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon. African Historical Dictionaries. Vol. 81 (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3775-7. OCLC 43324271.
• Neba, Aaron (1999). Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon (3rd ed.). Bamenda: Neba Publishers.
• Tanang, Patrice; Mimche, Honoré; Efon, Hervé (2014). "Dynamique des langues nationales et officielles au Cameroun de 1987 à 2005". Actes du XVIIe colloque international de l'AIDELF, Ouagadougou, novembre 2012 (PDF) (in French). ISBN 978-2-9521220-4-7.

External links

• Ethnologue page on Languages of Cameroon
• PanAfriL10n page on Cameroon
• Aménagement linguistique dans le monde - Cameroun
• Leinyui, Usmang Salle. n.d. "Bilingualism." TranslationDirectory.com (article focuses on Cameroon)
• Rosendal, Tove. 2008. "Multilingual Cameroon: Policy, Practice, Problems and Solutions." University of Gothenburg, Africana Informal Series, No. 7

• Languages of Cameroon