Ngbandi, Northern

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639-3
ngb
Alternate Names
Baza, Mongwandi, Ngwandi
Population

250,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000 SIL). 75,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 250,290.

Location

Equateur province: Nord-Ubangi district, Businga, Mobayi-Mbanza and Yakoma territories; Orientale province: Bondo territory.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Adamawa-Ubangi, Ubangi, Ngbandi
Dialects

2 dialects, about equal in size. Sango [sag] is derived from Ngbandi.

Language Use

Vigorous. Some speakers of other languages use it for trade in border areas. All domains. Oral use in some churches. Oral literature. Positive attitudes. Most also use Lingala [lin]. Used as L2 by Bolondo [bzm], Pagibete [pae], Yango [yng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 8%. 20,000 read; 5,000 can write. NT: 1988.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ngbandi, Northern
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Ethnic groups: Abasango, Bwato, Mbaati, and Nzomboy (Monjomboli). Christian.

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