Ubangian languages

The ubangischen languages are a group of 89 relatively closely related languages which are mainly spoken in the Central African Republic, besides also in Cameroon, Congo and Southern Sudan. The name is derived from the river Ubangi. The classification of ubangischen languages in other language families is controversial.

In the Central African Republic are ubangische languages the most important group of languages and are spoken of 3 up to 5.5 million speakers. The Sango is the official language of the Central African Republic. Ngbaka and Azande are more ubangische languages , each with over one million speakers.

Relationship with other language groups

Joseph Greenberg classified the little-known ubangischen languages as Niger - Congo languages and described it as Adamawa -east within the Adamawa languages. This arrangement was soon revised and the two language groups classified as independent groups within the Niger - Congo languages , within Blenchs savannah languages. However, this view has been increasingly challenged, and Dimmendaal (2008 ) states that in view of the lack of convincing evidence that Ubangische "probably forms a separate language family, which can not or can no longer be regarded as related to Niger - Congo or any other language family ."

Subdivision

Gbaya languages

Central: Gbaya - Bossangoa (180 thousand), Gbaya - Bozoum (35 thousand); Gbanu (100 thousand), Bokoto (25 thousand)
East: Ngbaka ( 1 million), Manza (250 thousand), Ali (35 thousand), Bofi (25 thousand), Bonjo
Northwest: Gbaya ( Northwest Gbaya ) (300 thousand)
Southwest: Southwest Gbaya (180 thousand), Bangadu (3 thousand)
Suma (50 thousand)

Banda Ngbandi

Banda languages Central: Bambari (180 thousand), Banda (100 thousand), Mono ( 70 thousand), Mbres (45 thousand), Ndele (35 thousand), mid -south Banda (100 thousand), Gobu (10 thousand), Kpagua ( 4 thousand), Ngundu; Togbo - Vara (25 thousand); Yangere (25 thousand)
South Central: Ngbugu ( South Central Banda ) (150 thousand), Langbashe (50 thousand)
West Central Banda (10 thousand)
South Banda: Mbanza (200 thousand)
Southwest: Ngbundu (20 thousand)

Sere languages : Ndogo (20 thousand), Sere ( 2.5 thousand ), Tagbu, Belanda Viri (20 thousand), Bai (3 thousand); Feroge (1 thousand), Mangayat (400); Indri (700) Togoyo †
Ngbaka - Mba - languages East: Mayogo (100 thousand), Bangba (10 thousand), Mundu (25 thousand)
West: Ngbaka Ma'bo (150 thousand), Gilima (12 thousand); Gbanziri (15 thousand), Buraka (3 thousand); Monzombo (15 thousand), Kpala (3 thousand), Yango (3 thousand); Baka (30 thousand), Gundi (10 thousand), Ganzi (2 thousand), Ngombe (2 thousand), Bomassa
Mba - Amadi: Mba (20 thousand) Dongo (5 thousand), ndunga (3 thousand); Amadi (Ma ) (5 thousand)

Zande Barambu languages

Zande Nzakara: Zande ( 1.2 million), Nzakara (50 thousand), Kpatili (5 thousand), Geme (600)
Barambu - Pambia: Barambu (25 thousand), Pambia (20 thousand)

Some Pygmy peoples of the equatorial rain forest also speak Ubangi languages , the Babinga, Bamassa, Bayaka, Ganzi, and Gundi Mbakka. To and La'bi are secret ritual languages for male initiation cults.

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