yko ISO 639
Iyasa Autonyms
Iyasa
Visualizations
A language of Cameroon
- ISO 639
- yko
- Alternate Names
- Bongwe, Lyaasa, Maasa, Yasa, Yassa
- Autonym
- Iyasa
- Population
- 2,200 in Cameroon (2015 SIL). Ethnic population: 4,400 (2015 SIL). Total users in all countries: 3,200.
- Location
- South region: Océan division, Campo and Kribi subdivisions, 15 villages on the coast near Equatorial Guinea.
- Language Maps
- Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe, Southern Cameroon
- Language Status
- 5 (Developing).
- Classification
- Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.33)
- Dialects
- Avandje, Iyasa (Iyassa). Iyasa (primarily in Cameroon) is closely related to Kombe [nui] and its dialects.
- Language Use
- Youth moving to towns, where language proficiency decreases. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use French [fra]. Some also use Bulu [bum]. Used as L2 by Bulu [bum].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: 80% read, 40% write, though not a conventional orthography. Want literacy. Radio. Bible portions: 2017–2019.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn], used since 2011.
- Other Comments
- Christian, traditional religion.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Iyasa
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Woleu-Ntem province.
- Dialects
- Iyasa, Bweko, Vendo, Bodele, Marry, One, Asonga, Bomui, Mogana, Mooma, Mapanga.
- Language Status
- 7 (Shifting)
- Language Use
- Shifting to French [fra].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Some or all reportedly are Pygmies. View other languages of Gabon
Language Name
Iyasa
- Location
- Litoral province: Edjabe village.
- Language Status
- 6b (Threatened)
- Language Use
- Some young people, all adults. All also use Spanish [spa].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L1: Very low. No available literature.
- Other Comments
- Traditionally coastal fishermen. All the Kombe, One, Mari, Bweko, and cross-border Yasa consider themselves ‘Bongwe’ (those who use ‘ngwe’ to refer to ourselves), and together with additional groups are vNdowe’ (the beach peoples). Christian. View other languages of Equatorial Guinea
Language Name
Iyasa
User Population
1,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2017 S. Smith), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,100 (2017).
