Ngbandi, Northern

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
ngb
Alternate Names
Baza, Mongwandi, Ngwandi
Population

250,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000 SIL). Population total all countries: 250,290. 75,000 monolinguals.

Location

Equateur province: Nord-Ubangi district, Businga, Mobayi-Mbanza and Yakoma territories; Orientale province: Bondo territory.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Ngbandi
Dialects

2 dialects, about equal in size. Sango [sag] is derived from Ngbandi.

Language Use

Vigorous. Some speakers of other languages use it for trade in border areas. All domains. Oral use in some churches. Oral literature. Positive attitudes. 70% also use Lingala [lin]. Used as L2 by Bolondo [bzm], Pagibete [pae], Yango [yng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 8%. 20,000 read; 5,000 can write. NT: 1988.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ngbandi, Northern
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Ethnic groups: Abasango, Bwato, Mbaati, and Nzomboy (Monjomboli). Christian.