Bangubangu language explained

Bangubangu
States:Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region:Katanga province
Date:2011
Ref:e25
Familycolor:Niger-Congo
Fam2:Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:Benue–Congo
Fam4:Bantoid
Fam5:Bantu
Fam6:Luban
Fam7:Hemba (mostly);
Luba (Mutingua)
Dia1:Bangubangu proper
Dia2:Mikebwe
Dia3:Kasenga
Dia4:Nonda
Dia5:Hombo
Iso3:bnx
Glotto:bang1350
Glottorefname:Bangubangu
Guthrie:D.27

Bangubangu is a Bantu dialect cluster spoken by the Bangubangu people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The dialects are about 80% similar, apart from Hombo which is only 70% similar to the main dialect. It is possible that they are distinct languages. Christine Ahmed (1995) classifies the small "Bangubangu of Mutingua" apart from the rest, with the Luba rather than Hemba languages; this is presumably a Hombo dialect.

One of the earliest scholars to study Bangubangu was A. E. Meeussen, who wrote a brief description of the grammar of the language as a result of a visit to the area in 1951.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Meeussen, A. E. (1954). "Linguïstische schets van het Bangubangu". Tervuren, 1954, 53 p.