Kwasio

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A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
nmg
Alternate Names
Kwassio
Autonym
Kwasio
User Population

9,000 in Cameroon (1982 SIL), increasing. Total users in all countries: 22,000.

Location

South region: Océan division, Kribi and Lolodorf subdivisions, Kribi forests area; Kribi and Lolodorf areas.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.81)
Dialects

Mvumbo (Mekuk, Ngoumba, Ngumba), Mabi (Magbea). Dialects mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: high with Makaa [mcp], Njyem [njy], and Koonzime [ozm] and grammatically similar.

Language Use

Some churches use Kwasio exclusively; some use a mixture with French [fra]. All domains. Used by all, though many youth lose proficiency to French [fra]. Positive attitudes. All also use French [fra], especially in education, politics and media. Many also use Bulu [bum]. Some also use Batanga [bnm]. Some also use Gyele [gyi]. Used as L2 by Batanga [bnm], Fang [fan], Gyele [gyi].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 75% in French [fra]. Radio. Grammar. Bible portions: 1957–2019.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kwasio
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1930s, revised in 2011.

Other Comments

Distinct from Ngomba [jgo], which is in West Province. Christian.

Also spoken in:

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