Benga

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A language of Equatorial Guinea

ISO 639-3
bng
Alternate Names
Boumba, Ndowe
Population

3,900 in Equatorial Guinea (2011 S. Smith), decreasing. No monolinguals. 400 on Corisco Island. Population total all countries: 5,000.

Location

Corisco Island, Rio Muni. Also in Gabon.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bube-Benga (A.34)
Dialects

Related to Batanga [bnm].

Language Use

On Corisco, all domains. Away from Corisco island used more by older generation, fewer youth. Positive attitudes. Almost all also use Spanish [spa]. Also use French [fra] due to trade with Gabon.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Only a few dozen read Benga (Scripture). All Ndowe groups use Benga hymnal. Literacy rate in L2: Almost 100%. Poetry. Grammar. NT: 1895.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Benga
Writing
Latin script, used since 1863.
Other Comments

Together with Batanga [bnm] they are called Boumba; Ndowe with Iyassa [yko], One [yko], Mari [yko], Bueko [yko], and Kombe [nui]. A ‘Ndowe’, coastal people. 80% moved to Libreville, Gabon or Bata. Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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