Kwasio

NMG

developing

Alternate Names: Magbea, Mvumbo, Ngumba

Dialects: Mabi, Mvumbo (Mekuk, Ngoumba, Ngumba). Dialects mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: high with Makaa ,, Njyem ,, and Koonzime , and grammatically similar.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Bantoid
Southern
Narrow Bantu
Northwest
A
Makaa-Njem (A.81)

Demographics: 9,000 in Cameroon (1982 SIL), increasing. Population total all countries: 22,000. L2 users: Some speakers of neighboring languages also use Kwasio (2011 SIL).

Language Use: Some churches use Kwasio exclusively; some use a mixture with French [fra]. All domains. All ages, though many youth lose proficiency to French [fra]. Positive attitudes. 100% also use French [fra]. French used in education, politics and media. Also use Bulu [bum]. Used as L2 by Gyele [gyi].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 75% in French [fra]. Poetry. Radio programs. Bible portions: 1957–1969.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Cameroon

Other Comments: Distinct from Ngomba ,, which is in West Province. Christian.