Nkem-Nkum

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
isi
User Population

51,000 (Yoder et al 2008), increasing. 26,600 Nkem, 24,400 Nkum.

Location

Cross River state: Ogoja LGA.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Ekoid, Bakor
Dialects

Nkem (Adagom, Ishibori, Nkim, Ogoja), Nkum (Alladim, Ibil, Igordori, Ikangdangha, Ishiaya, Ishindede, Nkum-Iborr). Dialects more than 75% mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: 89% between dialects, 65%–67% with Nnam [nbp], 63%–67% with Ekajuk [eka], 71% with Abanyom [amb], 53%–58% with Nde-Nsele-Nta [ndd], 51%–52% with Efutop [ofu].

Language Use

Vigorous. Home. Used by all. Positive attitudes. A few also use Yala [yba]. Also use Ekajuk [eka]. Also use Nigerian Pidgin [pcm]. Also use Nnam [nbp]. Used as L2 by Abanyom [abm], Efutop [ofu], Nnam [nbp].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 3%. Literacy rate in L2: 35% in English [eng]. English [eng] used in school.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nkem-Nkum
Writing

Latin script [Latn], in development.

Other Comments

Christian.