Lingala

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Widespread in Bas-Uele, Equateur, Haut-Uele, Kinshasa, Mai-Ndombe, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Orientale, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshopo provinces.

Also spoken in:

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Belgium

Language NameLingala

User Population

20,100 in Belgium (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NameLingala

User Population

3,810 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Central African Republic

Language NameLingala

User Population

10,700 in Central African Republic (2000).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Congo

Language NameLingala

User Population

213,000 in Congo (2018).

Location

Mainly Brazzaville and surrounding areas in Pool department.

Alternate Names

Ngala

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Statutory language of national identity (2002, Constitution, Article 6), generally northern. Lingala is used throughout the area north of Brazzaville in the churches, the market and the media (2014 SIL).

Language Use

Also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Akwa [akw], Bekwel [bkw], Bobangi [bni], Bomitaba [zmx], Bongili [bui], Bonjo [bok], Dibole [bvx], Fang [fan], Gbaya [gya], Kako [kkj], Kota [koq], Koyo [koh], Likuba [kxx], Likwala [kwc], Mbandja [zmz], Mbere [mdt], Mboko [mdu], Mbosi [mdw], Moi [mow], Monzombo [moj], Mpyemo [mcx], Ngbaka [nga], Ngbaka Ma’bo [nbm], Ngom [nra], Ngundi [ndn], Ngungwel [ngz], Njyem [njy], Pomo [pmm], Teke-Eboo [ebo], Teke-Ibali [tek], Teke-Kukuya [kkw], Teke-Nzikou [nzu], Teke-Tege [teg], Teke-Wuumu [ifm].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–75%.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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United Kingdom

Language NameLingala

User Population

4,910 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Lingala

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A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

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