Gbaya, Northwest

A language of Central African Republic

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Gbaya, Gbaya Nord-Ouest

Population

200,000 in Central African Republic (1996). Total users in all countries: 267,000.

Location

Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture: north of Amada Gaza; Nana-Mambéré prefecture: Baboua and Bouar subprefectures; Ouham-Pendé prefecture: Bocaranga and Bozoum subprefectures.

Language Maps

Central African Republic

Congo

Central Cameroon

Nigeria, Map 8

Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka, Northwest

Dialects

Gbaya Kara (Boar, Gbaya de Bouar), Bodoe, Lai (Lay), Yaáyuwee (Kalla, Yaiwe). A member of macrolanguage Gbaya [gba].

Language Use

Vigorous. Most also use Sango [sag].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1995–2011.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Gbaya, Northwest

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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Cameroon

Language nameGbaya, Northwest

Population Full

65,000 in Cameroon (1980).

Location

Adamawa region: Djerem division, Ngaoundal and Tibati subdivisions; Faro and Deo divisions, Tignere subdivision; Mbere division, Meiganga subdivision; East region: Lom and Djerem divisions, Betare-Oya, Bertoua, and Garoua Boulay subdivisions; Kadey division, Kette subdivision; Boumba and Ngoko divisions, Gari-Gombo subdivision; North region: Mayo-Rey division, south of Touboro.

Alternate Names

Baya

Dialects

Banginda, Mbai, Gaymona, Lai (Lay), Lombu, Mbere, Mombe, Yaáyuwee (Kalla, Yaiwe).

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Also use Kako [kkj]. Used as L2 by Gbaya-Mbodomo [gmm].

Other Comments

Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

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Congo

Language nameGbaya

Population Full

2,000 in Congo (Johnstone 1993).

Location

Likouala department: Epena district; Sangha department: scattered on Cameroon border.

Alternate Names

Baya, Northwest Gbaya

Status

5* (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Lingala [lin] (Leitch 2005).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Nigeria

Language nameGbaya, Northwest

Population Full

Very few in Nigeria.

Location

Taraba state: Bali LGA.

Alternate Names

Baya

Dialects

Gbeya (Gbea).

Status

5* (Developing).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Gbaya, Northwest

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A language of Central African Republic

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