Baka

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
bkc
Alternate Names
Babinga, Bebayaga, Bebayaka, Bibaya, Pygmees Baka, Pygmees de l’est
Population

40,000 in Cameroon (2007 Y. Léonard). 15,000 monolinguals, mainly women. Population total all countries: 43,200. Ethnic population: 40,000.

Location

Southeast East Region, Boumba and Ngoko, Kadey, and Upper Nyong divisions; South Region, Dja and Lobo divisions. Also in Gabon.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, Baka-Gundi
Language Use

The Baka, being pygmies, are held in low esteem by the Bantus. East Region population increase among all language groups and Baka sedentism increase bilingualism. Most domains, including home, education, and forest. All ages. Positive attitudes. French [fra] also used in schools. French most used with outsiders.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5% in French. In small, dispersed villages, which makes literacy difficult. Taught in primary schools. Used in 3 villages. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1996.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Baka
Writing
Latin script, not used in Gabon.
Other Comments

Semi-nomadic but encouraged by the government to settle along roadways. Different from Baka of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan and from the Aka [soh] (Baaka, Bayaka, Biyaka). Although similar in culture, they are different in language. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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