Nkem-Nkum

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
isi
Population

51,000 (Yoder), increasing. 26,600 Nkem, 24,400 Nkum.

Location

Cross River State, Ogoja LGA.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Ekoid, Bakor
Dialects

Nkem (Adagom, Ishibori, Nkim, Ogboja), Nkum (Alladim, Ibil, Igordori, Ikangdangha, Ishiaya, Ishindede, Nkum-Iborr). Dialects more than 75% mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: 89% between dialects, 65%–67% with Nnam [nbp], 63%–67% with Ekajuk [eka], 71% with Abanyom [amb], 53%–58% with Nde-Nsele-Nta [ndd], 51%–52% with Efutop [ofu].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home. All ages. Positive attitudes. Most also use Nigerian Pidgin [pcm]; some understand Ekajuk [eka] and Nnam [nbp]. Estimated 40,000 bilingual population.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 3%. Literacy rate in L2: 35% in English. English [eng] used in school.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nkem-Nkum
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.