Fulfulde, Adamawa
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A language of Cameroon
5,180,000 in Cameroon, all users. L1 users: 2,500,000 in Cameroon (2019). L2 users: 2,680,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 5,685,500 (as L1: 3,005,500; as L2: 2,680,000).
Widespead in Adamawa, Far North, and North regions.
3 (Wider communication). Brought to Cameroon in 1805 via a religious war (jihad) launched by Usman Dan Fodio in Northern Nigeria. Originally used as a trade language. Since the arrival of missionaries in 1885, used as a church language. Now used as LWC in 3 regions of northern Cameroon.
Maroua, Garoua, Ngaondéré, Nomadic Fulfulde - Mbororoore, Bilkire (Bilkiri). Lexical similarity: high with Maroua, Garoua, and Ngaoundere dialects. A member of macrolanguage Fulah [ful].
SVO (Maroua dialect sometimes uses VSO); prepositions; noun head initial; gender (human/non-human); no articles; passives (middle, active, passive); comparatives; 26 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; long vowels are stressed.
Clans often only permit marriage within the same clan. Adult men will speak Adamawa Fulfulde, while women and children will speak their specific clan’s dialect. Home, neighborhood, work. Used by all. Positive attitudes. A few also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. A few also use English [eng]. A few also use French [fra]. A few also use Hausa [hau]. A few also use Standard Arabic [arb]. Used as L2 by Bana [bcw], Bata [bta], Buwal [bhs], Cuvok [cuv], Daba [dbq], Dama [dmm], Dii [dur], Doyayo [dow], Dugun [ndu], Dugwor [dme], Duli-Gey [duz], Duupa [dae], Gavar [gou], Gbaya-Mbodomo [gmm], Gidar [gid], Gimme [kmp], Gimnime [gmn], Giziga [giz], Gude [gde], Gvoko [ngs], Hdi [xed], Hya [hya], Jimjimen [jim], Karang [kzr], Kera [ker], Kolbila [klc], Koma [kmy], Kuo [xuo], Longto [wok], Mafa [maf], Mambai [mcs], Masana [mcn], Maslam [msv], Matal [mfh], Mazagway-Hidi [dkx], Mbudum [xmd], Mbuko [mqb], Mbum [mdd], Mefele [mfj], Merey [meq], Mina [hna], Mofu-Gudur [mif], Moloko [mlw], Mom Jango [ver], Mono [mru], Mundang [mua], Musey [mse], Musgu [mug], Muyang [muy], Ndai [gke], Ndoola [ndr], Ngambay [sba], Nizaa [sgi], North Fali [fll], North Giziga [gis], North Mofu [mfk], Northwest Gbaya [gya], Nzakambay [nzy], Nzanyi [nja], Oblo [obl], Pam [pmn], Pana [pnz], Parkwa [pbi], Pere [pfe], Pévé [lme], Pol [pmm], Psikye [kvj], Sharwa [swq], South Fali [fal], Tsuvan [tsh], Tupuri [tui], Vame [mlr], Vemgo-Mabas [vem], Wandala [mfi], Wawa [www], Wuzlam [udl], Yerwa Kanuri [knc], Zizilivakan [ziz], Zulgo-Gemzek [gnd].
Literacy rate in L1: Low compared with national average. Arabic script literacy is 2–3 times greater than Roman script literacy and growing. Franco-Arabic and Anglo-Arabic schools are increasing rapidly. Taught as subject in primary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1983–2017.
Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.