Yasa

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
yko
Alternate Names
Bongwe, Iyasa, Lyaasa, Maasa, Yassa
Population

1,490 in Cameroon (2000). Population total all countries: 2,400. Ethnic population: 3,000.

Location

South Region, Ocean division, Campo and Kribi subdivisions, on the coast near Equatorial Guinea, 15 villages. Also in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bube-Benga (A.33)
Dialects

Avandje, Iyassa. Lexical similarity: with Ngumbi [nui] (Kombe) in Equatorial Guinea.

Language Use

Youth moving to towns, where language proficiency decreases. All domains. All ages. Very positive attitudes.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 80% read, 40% write, though not a conventional orthography. Want literacy. Poetry. Radio programs.
Writing
Latin script, used since 2011.
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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