fan ISO 639
Fang Autonyms
Fang
Visualizations
A language of Equatorial Guinea
- ISO 639
- fan
- Alternate Names
- Pahouin, Pamue, Pangwe
- Autonym
- Fang
- Population
- 624,000 in Equatorial Guinea, all users. L1 users: 589,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2013 S. Smith), increasing. L2 users: 35,000 (2013 S. Smith). Total users in all countries: 1,096,800 (as L1: 1,061,800; as L2: 35,000).
- Location
- Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces.
- Language Maps
- Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe, Southern Cameroon
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Became dominant in the 19th century assimilating other related or less-related languages. Used in church, trade (noted for ivory and ironwork), musical oral tradition, and farming.
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Ewondo-Fang (A.75)
- Dialects
- Ntumu, Okak. Intelligible with Bulu [bum] and Ewondo [ewo] in the Beti language subgroup. More similar to Bulu [bum] than Ewondo [ewo].
- Language Use
- All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Spanish [spa]. Many also use Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe], a language of urban identity for the young people in the capital and on Bioko island. Many also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Benga [bng], Bube [bvb], Fa d’Ambu [fab], Kombe [nui], Kwasio [nmg], Molengue [bxc], Seki [syi].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: Few read Fang. Literacy rate in L2: 77% in Spanish [spa]. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2014.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn], used since 1995.
- Other Comments
- Known as warriors of the jungle. Their knowledge of jungle plants, animals, and survival is legendary. Christian, traditional religion.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Fang
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Sangha department.
- Dialects
- Make, Ntum (Ntumu), Ogowe.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Language Use
- Also use Lingala [lin] (Leitch 2005).
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Congo
Language Name
Fang
User Population
11,800 in Congo (2018).
- Location
- South region: southern part of Mvila (south of Ebolowa and Mvangan), Dja-and-Lobo division, south of Djoum; Vallée-du-Ntem division; Océan division, isolated locations between Lolodorf and Kribi towns, and east of Campo.
- Dialects
- Fang (Okak), Mvae (Mvan, Mvang, Mvay, Mveny), Ntoumou (Ntumu).
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Language Use
- Used by all. Most also use French [fra], particularly for official purposes and in public media in the South Region. Many also use Ewondo [ewo]. A few also use Kwasio [nmg].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%.
- Other Comments
- Different from Fang [fak]. View other languages of Cameroon
Language Name
Fang
User Population
111,000 in Cameroon (2000).
- Location
- Mainly Estuaire and Woleu-Ntem provinces; Moyen-Ogooué province: Ogooué river and Ancien Founa areas; Ngounié province: most in Ancien Matica area; Ogooué-Ivindo province: Ivindo department.
- Dialects
- Meke (Make, Makina, Shiwa), Ntumu (Ntum), Mvai, Okak, Nzaman, Atsi.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Language Use
- Most also use French [fra]. Also use Myene [mye]. Used as L2 by Myene [mye]. View other languages of Gabon
Language Name
Fang
User Population
350,000 in Gabon (Idiata 2007).
