Mengaka

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3
xmg
Alternate Names
Bamileke-Mengaka, Eghap, Məgaka, Megaka
User Population

38,500 (2005 SIL).

Location

North West region: Mezam division; West region: Bamboutos division, South Galim subdivision, Bagam, Bamendjing, and Galim.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Wide Grassfields, Narrow Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke
Dialects

Bagam (Ghap), Bamendjing (Bamendjin, Benzing). Lexical similarity: 91% among villages, but no dialect differences reported.

Language Use

Most also use French [fra], especially youth. Some also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. Some also use English [eng], as language of public education. A few also use Bamun [bax], especially older speakers.

Language Development

Interest in language development for schools and individual literacy.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mengaka
Writing

Bagam (Eghap) script [Qabh], limited usage except for correspondence.

Other Comments

Distinct from Mungaka [mhk] (Bali), which is Mbam-Nkam, Noone [nhu].