Denya

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
anv
Alternate Names
Agnang, Anyah, Anyan, Anyang, Eyan, Nyang, Obonya, Takamanda
Autonym
Denya
User Population

11,200 (1982 SIL), increasing.

Location

South West region: Manyu division, central and south Akwaya subdivisions; north Mamfe Central subdivision, Takamanda Forest Reserve.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Mamfe
Dialects

Basho, Bitieku, Takamanda, Bajwo. Dialect subgroup. Kendem [kvm] is linguistically between Denya [anv] and Kenyang [ken]. Lexical similarity: 70%–80% between dialects.

Language Use

Home, church, market, clinic. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Some also use English [eng]. A few also use Ejagham [etu]. A few also use Kenyang [ken]. Used as L2 by Ambele [ael], Ejagham [etu], Iceve-Maci [bec], Kendem [kvm], Kenyang [ken].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Used informally in education. Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 2010.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Denya
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.