Lobala

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
loq
Population

60,000 (2000 D. Morgan). Very few monolinguals.

Location

Equateur Province, Sud Ubangi district, Kungu territory; Equateur district, Bomongo territory, Dongo northeast road and to Mokusi village; Dongo road south following Ubangi river, and forest south and west.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Bangi-Ntomba (C.16)
Dialects

Likoka, Poko, South Lobala, Tanda. Most similar to Bomboma [bws] and Libinza [liz]. Lexical similarity: 65% with Lingala [lin].

Language Use

Parents in the forest and some along the Ubangi River pass on Lobala to children. Bomboli [bml] use Lobala as L2. Literacy classes, religious services, oral use in commerce. Positive attitudes. Also use Lingala [lin], especially along the Ubangi River.

Language Development
Bible portions: 1993–1995.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lobala
Writing
Latin script.