fan ISO 639

Fang Autonyms

Fang

  • Geography

    GQ Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Equatorial Guinea

fan
Pahouin, Pamue, Pangwe
Fang
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).
Widespread. Centro Sur, Kié-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas provinces.
Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe, Southern Cameroon
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.
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Ewondo-Fang (A.75)
Ntumu, Okak. Intelligible with Bulu [bum] and Ewondo [ewo] in the Beti language subgroup. More similar to Bulu [bum] than Ewondo [ewo].
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].
Literacy rate in L1: Few read Fang. Literacy rate in L2: 77% in Spanish [spa]. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2014.
Latin script [Latn], used since 1995.
Known as warriors of the jungle. Their knowledge of jungle plants, animals, and survival is legendary. Christian, traditional religion.
OLAC resources in and about Fang
Fang
11,800 in Congo (2018).
Sangha department.
Make, Ntum (Ntumu), Ogowe.
5 (Dispersed)
Also use Lingala [lin] (Leitch 2005).
Non-indigenous.
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Fang
111,000 in Cameroon (2000).
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.
Fang (Okak), Mvae (Mvan, Mvang, Mvay, Mveny), Ntoumou (Ntumu).
5 (Dispersed)
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].
Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%.
Different from Fang [fak].
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Fang
350,000 in Gabon (Idiata 2007).
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.
Meke (Make, Makina, Shiwa), Ntumu (Ntum), Mvai, Okak, Nzaman, Atsi.
5 (Dispersed)
Most also use French [fra]. Also use Myene [mye]. Used as L2 by Myene [mye].
View other languages of Gabon