Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Mbam languages

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Geographic distribution:
  
southwestern Cameroon

Linguistic classification:
  
Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Southern Bantoid Mbam

Glottolog:
  
mbam1252  (Mbam) jara1262  (Jarawan)

The Mbam languages are a group of erstwhile zone-A Bantu languages which some lexicostatistical studies suggest are not actually Bantu, but related Southern Bantoid languages. Janssens (1992–93) posits that they are all of Guthrie's zone A.60 languages, half of his A.40 languages, and perhaps Bube (A.31). Blench (2011) includes Jarawan in A.60, and keeps both in Bantu.

  • Sanaga (A60): Tuki (Bacenga), Leti, Mbwasa
  • West Mbam (A40): Bati (A60), Nomaande (Mandi)–Tunen (Aling'a, Banen)–Tuotomb–Yambeta, Nyokon
  • Yambasa (A60): Nubaca, Mbule, Nugunu, Elip–Mmaala–Yangben
  • Jarawan (See)
  • ?Bube (A31)

    • References

    Mbam languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA