Kom

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
bkm
Alternate Names
Bamekon, Bikom, Kong, Nkom
Autonym
Itangikom
Population

233,000 (2005 CABTAL), increasing. 69,900 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 233,000.

Location

North West region: south Boyo division, southeast of Wum town, northeast of Bamenda city; also major urban centers.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Used by speakers of many other languages.

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Ring, Center
Dialects

Mbizenaku (Itangimbesa, Mbesa).

Typology

Tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Oral use in local administration, church, commerce, written use in church, letters. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Some also use English [eng]. Also use Babanki [bbk], Bum [bmv], Chungmboko [cug], French [fra], Lamnso’ [lns], Mmen [bfm], Oku [oku]. Used as L2 by Aghem [agq], Babanki [bbk], Bum [bmv], Chungmboko [cug], Kemedzung [dmo], Koma [kmy], Laimbue [lmx], Mmen [bfm], Noone [nhu].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 30%. 5% can write Kom. 35 out of 90 schools have bilingual education. A few high schools have Kom language clubs, and Kom is a subject in extracurricular activities. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2004. Agency: Kom Language Development Committee.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kom
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

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