Basaa

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
bas
Alternate Names
Basa, Bassa, Bicek, Bikyek, Bisaa, Mbele, Mee, Mvele, Northern Mbene, Tupen
Autonym
Basaa
User Population

300,000 (2005 SIL). Based on the actual population of the subdivisions where the Basaa people are present, as of the official 2005 census (2014 C. Hamm).

Location

Centre region: widespread in Nyong-and-Kéllé division; Littoral region: Nkam and Sanaga-Maritime divisions; South region: Océan division; West region: Menoua division.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Basaa (A.43)
Dialects

Bakem, Bon, Bibeng, Diboum (Dibobom), Log, Mpo, Mbang, Ndokama, Basso, Ndokbele, Ndokpenda, Nyamtam.

Language Use

Used by all. All also use French [fra], particularly for official purposes and in public media in the Centre, Littoral, South, and West Regions. Some also use Duala [dua]. Some also use English [eng]. A few also use Bakoko [bkh]. A few also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Used as L2 by Bakoko [bkh], Bati [btc], Gyele [gyi], Hijuk [hij], Mbule [mlb], Nubaca [baf].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1969.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Basaa
Writing

Latin script [Latn].