Bikya language explained

Bikya
Also Known As:Furu
States:Cameroon
Region:Northwest Region, Menchum department, Furu-Awa Subdivision, Furubana village
Extinct:1980s
Ref:e25
Familycolor:Niger-Congo
Fam2:Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:Volta–Congo
Fam4:Benue–Congo
Fam5:Bantoid
Fam6:Southern Bantoid
Fam7:Beboid
Fam8:Furu or Eastern Beboid
Iso3:byb
Glotto:biky1238
Glottorefname:Bikya

Bikya (also known as Furu) is a potentially extinct Southern Bantoid language spoken in Cameroon. It is one of the three, or four, Furu languages. In 1986 four surviving speakers were identified, although only one (a man in his seventies) spoke the language fluently.

English linguist Dr. David Dalby filmed an 87-year-old African woman who spoke Bikya as her native tongue. At the time, it was believed that she was the last Bikya speaker.[1]

It, and presumably all of Furu, is perhaps a Beboid language.[2]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: Dyer . Gwynne . Profusion of tongues in the global village . 22 December 2020 . Baltimore Sun.
  2. Web site: Blench. Roger. The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu. 7–9 April 2011. 5 March 2024.