Lingala

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
lin
Alternate Names
Ngala
Population

2,040,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000). Population total all countries: 2,141,300.

Location

Widespread in Bandundu, Equateur, and Orientale provinces, but not southeast Orientale. Also in Central African Republic, Congo.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in northwestern regions (2006, Constitution, Article 1(8)).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Bangi-Ntomba (C.36)
Dialects

Similar to Lusengo [lse] and Bangala [bxg]. Lexical similarity: 33% with Bobangi [bni].

Typology

SVO

Language Development
New media. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1970–2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lingala
Writing
Latin script.

Also spoken in:

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