Mesaka

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
iyo
Alternate Names
Banagere, Iyon, Messaga, Messaga-Ekol, Messaka, Ugal, Ugare
Autonym
Ugarə
User Population

14,000 (1982 SIL).

Location

North West region: Menchum division, Mbengwi area; South West region: Manyu division, isolated on Nigeria border northeast of Akwaya.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Tivoid
Dialects

Batomo (Babasi). Batomo dialect may be a separate language, or may be the same as Motomo (Oliti, Matchi), a dialect of Iceve-Maci [bec]. Lexical similarity: 70% with Tiv [tiv].

Typology

SVO; noun head initial; 12 noun classes; tonal; 25 consonant phonemes; 8 vowel phonemes.

Language Use

Used by all. Some also use English [eng]. Some also use Esimbi [ags], especially in the market. Also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Also use Tiv [tiv].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mesaka
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Ethnic autonym: Ugare, Mesaka is used by the government, Iyon by the Tiv. Traditional religion.