Ghomálá’

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
bbj
Alternate Names
Baloum, Bamileke-Bandjoun, Bandjoun, Banjoun-Baham, Banjun, Batie, Mahum, Mandju, ghᴐmala’
Autonym
Ghomálá’
User Population

350,000 (2005 SIL). Based on the actual population of the subdivisions where the Ghomala’ people are present, as of the official 2005 census (2014 C. Hamm).

Location

West region: some in south Bamboutos division, east Menoua division, Mifi division except south and pockets north and west, Bamendjou subdivision.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke
Dialects

Ghomálá’ Central (Baham, Bandjoun, Hom, Jo, We, Yogam), Ghomálá’ North (Fusap, Lang), Ghomálá’ South (Dengkwop, Pa, Te), Ngemba (Bamenjou, Fu’da, Meka, Monjo, Mugum, Sa). Bameka, Bansoa, and Balessing are subvarieties of South Ghomálá’, North Ghomálá’ has 2 subvarieties, Central Ghomálá’ 4, and Ngemba 5.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra]. A few also use Bamun [bax]. A few also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. A few also use English [eng]. A few also use Medumba [byv]. Used as L2 by Fe’fe’ [fmp].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2002.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ghomálá’
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.