Sango

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A language of Central African Republic

Alternate Names

Sangho

Sango

User Population

5,100,000 in Central African Republic, all users. L1 users: 500,000 in Central African Republic (2017 SIL). L2 users: 4,600,000. Total users in all countries: 5,217,000 (as L1: 617,000; as L2: 4,600,000).

Widespread.

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Constitution, Article 18).

Creole, Ngbandi based

None known. A rapidly spreading creole derived from Ngbandi [ngb]. Lexical similarity: 51% with French [fra], 49% with African languages. Many French loanwords used in everyday speech (2017 C. Mueller).

SVO.

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1992–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Sango

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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Chad

Language NameSango

Location

Widespread in southern Chad.

Alternate Names

Sangho

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Derived from Ngbandi [ngb], with decreasing usage in Chad.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Congo

Language NameSango

User Population

117,000 in Congo (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Language NameSango

User Population

Few in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Location

Nord-Ubangi province: extreme north border on Oubangui river.

Alternate Names

Sangho

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Furu [fuu], Gobu [gox], Mono [mnh], South Central Banda [lnl], Togbo-Vara Banda [tor].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. A rapidly spreading language derived from Ngbandi [ngb] with loans from Bantu languages and French [fra].

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