gyi ISO 639

Gyele Autonyms

Gyele

  • Geography

    CM Centre region: Nyong-et-Kéllé division; South region: Océan division, Bipindi, Campo, Kribi, and Lolodorf subdivisions, forested areas between Nyong and Ntem rivers, many near Campo-Maan Reserve.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Cameroon

gyi
Babinga, Bagiele, Bagyele, Bajele, Bajeli, Bakuele, Bekoe, Bogyel, Bogyeli, Bondjiel, Giele, Gieli, Gyeli
Gyele
4,250 in Cameroon (2012 SIL). Total users in all countries: 4,300.
Centre region: Nyong-et-Kéllé division; South region: Océan division, Bipindi, Campo, Kribi, and Lolodorf subdivisions, forested areas between Nyong and Ntem rivers, many near Campo-Maan Reserve.
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe, Southern Cameroon
6b (Threatened).
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.801)
Bagyeli, Bakola (Bako), Likoya. Lexical similarity: high with Kwasio [nmg]. Much shared vocabulary in Bakola dialect with Basaa [bas]. Likoya is a contact variety; Gyele who live near Bulu [bum] speakers borrow from that language.
Speakers often hide the fact that they have their own language. However, within the group, when no outsiders are present, they prefer Gyele. Home, with each other. Some of all ages. Most also use Kwasio [nmg]. A few also use French [fra]. Also use Basaa [bas]. Also use Bulu [bum]. Also use Ewondo [ewo]. Used as L2 by Kwasio [nmg].
Literacy rate in L1: 5% have some literacy in Gyele. Literacy rate in L2: Very few can read French [fra]. A Bipindi boarding school uses Gyele materials in elementary school, which produced some literacy among Bipindi area Gyele speakers. Not used in government schools, which more children are attending. Radio. Videos. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1969–1987.
Latin script [Latn], used since about 1987.
Pygmies, dispersed in small groups in the forest. Probably different from Bakola (Bakoya) pygmies of Gabon. Traditional religion.
OLAC resources in and about Gyele
Gyele
50 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 SIL). Possibly hundreds more in isolated camps.
Centro Sur and Litoral provinces.
6b (Threatened)
Some young people, all adults. Also use Spanish [spa].
Pygmies, dispersed in small groups in the forest. Traditional religion.
View other languages of Equatorial Guinea