Mbam languages

The Mbam languages ​​( often abbreviated to Mbam ) form a subgroup of the southern bantoiden languages ​​, a branch of the Benue - Congo languages ​​, which in turn belong to the Niger -Congo language family.

The approximately 15 - Mbam languages ​​are spoken by around 120,000 people in the West of Cameroon ( Central Province, Mbam Division ). The two most important Mbam languages ​​are Nugunu (or Yambasa ) with 35,000 speakers and Tuki (or Sanaga ) with 25,000 speakers.

Classification

Position of the Mbam within the Niger - Congo:

• Niger - Congo > Volta - Congo > Benue - Congo > East Benue - Congo > Bantoid - Cross> Bantoid > South Bantoid > Mbam languages

Breakdown of Mbam languages ​​:

• Mbam Sanaga Tuki ( Sanaga ) (25 thousand)
• Leti ( ritual language of Mangisa )

• Nomaande (6 thousand), Yambeta (4 thousand), Bati (1 thousand), Tuotomb (1 thousand)
• Tuning ( Bamen )

• Nugunu ( Yambasa ) (35 thousand), Elip (6 thousand), Mmaala (5 thousand)
• Yangben (2 thousand), Nubaca (1 thousand), Mbule (1.5 thousand)