Ngambay

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A language of Chad

ISO 639-3
sba
Alternate Names
Gamba, Gambaye, Gamblai, Ngambai, Sara Ngambai, Sara-Ngambay
Autonym
Ngambay
User Population

1,320,000 in Chad (2013 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 1,377,000.

Location

Logone Occidental region; Logone Oriental region: Lanya department, Bébedjia; La Nya Pendé department, Goré subprefecture; Mayo-Kebbi Ouest region: Mayo-Dallah department; Mayo-Kebbi Est and Tandjilé regions; centered in Moundou area.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Central Sudanic, West, Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper
Dialects

Lara, Benoye, Murum (Mouroum), Kere, Bemar (Daba de Goré). Some consider Laka [lap] to be a dialect of Ngambay.

Language Use

Largest language of the Sara-Bagirmi group.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Taught in some primary schools in early grades only. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1993.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ngambay
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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