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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Cameroon > Baka

Baka

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3: bkc

Population	40,000 in Cameroon (2007). 15,000 monolinguals, mainly women. Population total all countries: 43,200. Ethnic population: 40,000.
Region	Scattered in southeast East Province: Boumba and Ngoko, Kadey, and Upper Nyong divisions; South Province, Dja and Lobo divisions. Also in Gabon.
Language map	Southeastern Cameroon, reference number 263
Alternate names	Babinga, Bebayaga, Bebayaka, Bibaya, de L’est, Pygmee, Pygmees, Pygmy-E
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, Baka-Gundi
Language use	The Baka, being Pygmies, are held in low esteem by the Bantus. Most domains, including home and forest. French and Baka may be used in schools. French most used with outsiders. All ages. Positive attitude.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Less than 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 5% in French. In small, dispersed villages, which makes literacy difficult. Partially in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	Semi-nomadic but being encouraged by the government to settle along the roadways. Different from Baka of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan.

Also spoken in:

Gabon

Language name	Baka
Population	3,200 in Gabon.
Region	Cameroon border area.
Language map	Equatorial Guinea,Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe, reference number 2
Alternate names	Babinga
Comments	‘Babinga’ is used for the Baka, Aka [soh], and Gyele [gyi]; separate Pygmy languages; it means ‘Pygmy’. The name ‘Aka’ may not be used in Gabon. Dispersed in small groups. Nomadic. Hunter-gatherers; fishermen. Traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

HIGGENS, Kathleen, author. 1985. "Ritual and symbol in Baka life history."

LÉONARD, Yves, author. 2005. Pragmatic features of Baka narrative discourse.  

LÉONARD, Yves, author. 2009. Orthographe Baka.  

LÉONARD, Yves, author. 2011. Orthographe Baka.