Ewondo

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
ewo
Alternate Names
Ewundu, Jaunde, Yaounde, Yaunde
Autonym
Ewondo
User Population

578,000 (1982 SIL).

Location

Centre region: all except east Méfou division; Mfoundi and Nyong-and-So’o divisions; southern Nyong-and-Mfoumou division; South region: north Océan division.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Originated in the forests south of the Sanaga river (East Region, Central Region and Littoral Region of Cameroon). Used for trade.

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Ewondo-Fang (A.72)
Dialects

Badjia (Bakja, Bakjo), Bafeuk, Bamvele (Mvele, Yesoum, Yezum), Bane, Beti, Fong, Mbida-Bani, Mvete (Mvele), Mvog-Niengue, Omvang, Yabekolo (Yebekolo), Yabeka, Yabekanga, Enoah, Evouzok, Yangafek. It is intelligible of Bulu [bum], Eton [eto], and Fang [fan] as part of the Beti group.

Language Use

Most also use Eton [eto]. Most also use French [fra]. Many also use Bulu [bjl]. Some also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Bulu [bum], Elip [ekm], Eton [eto], Fang [fan], Gbaya-Mbodomo [gmm], Gyele [gyi], Koonzime [ozm], Mengisa [mct], Mmaala [mmu], Mpumpong [mgg], Nubaca [baf], Tunen [tvu], Yangben [yav].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Taught in a few primary schools in Yaoundé; taught as subject in most other schools (2021 SIL). Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1962–2012.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ewondo
Writing

Latin script [Latn].