Lamnso’

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
lns
Alternate Names
Bansaw, Banso, Banso’, Lamnsok, Lamso, Nsaw, Nsho’, Nso, Nso’, Panso
Autonym
Lamnso’
User Population

240,000 (2005 SIL), increasing. 72,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 240,000.

Location

North West region: Bui division, east Jakiri and Kumbo subdivisions, northeast of Bamenda, Kumbo area.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Originated in the Bamenda Grassfields of northwest Cameroon. Used by speakers of many other languages.

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Ring, East
Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Some also use English [eng]. Some also use Oku [oku]. A few also use Limbum [lmp]. Used as L2 by Kemedzung [dmo], Kom [bkm], Limbum [lmp], Noone [nhu], Oku [oku], Wushi [bse].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Taught as subject in most primary and secondary schools. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lamnso’
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.