Kulung

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
bbu
Alternate Names
Bakuli, Bakulu, Bakulung, Bambur, Kukulung, Kulu, Kuluno, Wo, Wurkum
User Population

40,000 (2012 M. Rueck, Z. Yoder, and K. Hannelová). Elderly are monolingual.

Location

Taraba state: Karim Lamido LGA, Balasa, Bambur, and Kirim; Wukari LGA, Gada Mayo.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Jarawan, Nigerian
Dialects

None known. Mutually unintelligible (less than 20%) with Mbula-Bwazza [mbu] and Bille [bil]. Lexical similarity: 37% with Mbula-Bwazza [mbu], 33% with Bile [bil].

Language Use

Home. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Hausa [hau] (Blench 2019). Used as L2 by Dadiya [dbd], Piya-Kwonci [piy].

Language Development

Dictionary. Bible portions: 1926–1950.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kulung
Writing

Latin script [Latn], no longer in use.

Other Comments

4 clans: Bambur, Balassa, Banyam, Bamingun. Different from Kulung [mpg] of Chad which is Chadic. Similar in culture to Piya, Kodei, Kwanchi, Pelang, and Pero. Christian.