Alternate Names: Pahouin, Pamue, Pangwe
Dialects: None known. Ntumu, Okak (Ntumu). Intelligible with Bulu , and Ewondo , in the Beti language subgroup. More similar to Bulu , than Ewondo ,.
Status Notes: Used in church, market, business, media, and music. It became a LWC by virtue of its dominant status as mother tongue of 85% of the country’s population.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 589,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2013 S. Smith), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,319,900. L2 users: 35,000 in Equatorial Guinea (2013 S. Smith).
Language Use: All domains. All ages. Very positive attitudes. 30% also use French [fra]. Also use Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe], Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by Bube [bvb], Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe], Fa d’Ambu [fab], Kombe [nui], Kwasio [nmg].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Few read Fang. Literacy rate in L2: 77% in Spanish. Poetry. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2000.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Equatorial Guinea
Other Comments: Ethnic groups are Okak, Ntumu, known as warriors of the jungle. Their knowledge of jungle plants, animals, survival is legendary. Christian, traditional religion.