Languages of the Republic of the Congo
In the Republic of Congo, many different languages are spoken.
The country is an almost purely Bantu- speaking area. In the east and north of the country, there are small groups of speakers ubangischer languages. However, the official language of the country after the end of French colonial French. So far, two Bantu languages, namely Lingala (13% speaker portion) and Kituba were merely (a variant of the largest native language Kikongo ), declared " national languages ". All three languages also serve as inter-ethnic languages. Other significant languages are Mbosi and Teke ( 17.3%). In total, more than 40 other languages are spoken, including Pygmäensprachen (1.4%) who are not Bantu languages.
Official language is French
French is now spoken by 30 % of the Congolese population. In the meantime, can even 88 % of the over 15 year olds write in the capital Brazzaville simple phrases in French.
Due to the civil war that shook the country, the French language was the language for various armed militias. Speakers who either Kituba not control (especially in the south), Kikongo and Lingala (especially those in the north), prefer to speak French for reasons of safety. From fear to reveal their ethnicity, the Congolese usually go over to French, which helps them to preserve their anonymity.
National languages
Kituba (or Munukutuba ) is a simplified Kikongokreol, understood by the speakers of the various dialects of Kikongo. This language is spoken by 50.35 % of the Congolese people, who live along the Congo - Ocean railway line connecting Brazzaville with Pointe -Noire in the south of the country.
Lingala, the flow of language, his mother tongue Teke the second language of the President Denis Sassou Nguesso and is mainly spoken in the north and east of the country. This is the language that has grown most rapidly in the last few years in the Congo.
Batekes constitute 18 % of the population and are mainly in the department of plateaus in the Cuvette -Ouest ( where they are known as Mbeti and Tegue ), Niari ( where they are known as Nzabi ), Bouenza and the pool area to be found.
Lari is a mixed language of the various idioms of the Congo, Teke, and is the language that is most spoken in the Pool region.