Mpumpong language explained

Mpumpong
Nativename:Mpumpoŋ
Pronunciation:pronounced as /[pʰùpʰôŋ]/
States:Cameroon
Speakers:75,000, incl. Konabem
Date:1991–1996
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Niger-Congo
Fam2:Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:Benue–Congo
Fam4:Bantu (Zone A)
Fam5:Makaa–Njem + Kako (A.80–90)
Fam6:Ndzem–Bomwali
Fam7:Bekwilic
Dia1:Mezime (Medjime)
Dia2:Mpiemo
Dia3:Mpumpong
Lc1:mgg
Ld1:Mpumpong
Lc2:mcx
Ld2:Mpiemo
Guthrie:A.86
Glotto:mpon1254
Glottoname:Mpongmpong
Glotto2:mpie1238
Glottoname2:Mpiemo

Mpumpong (Mpongmpong) is a Bantu language of Cameroon. Maho (2009) considers Mpiemo to be a dialect.

The digraph is pronounced like an English p.

Varieties

Varieties of Mpo are Mezime, Mpobyáng, Mpopó, Bagéto, Kunabeeb, Mpyámó, Mpomam, Esel, and Bijugi. There is intermediate intercomprehension among these language varieties. Mpo is closely related to Nzime.[1]

According to certain Mpobyáng speakers, notably from the villages of Mpak and Zumzazó in the arrondissement of Abong-Mbang, department of Haut-Nyong, Eastern Region, Mpo is the eponymous ancestor of the various Mezime clans:[1]

Each clan bears the name of one of the eight sons of Mpo; Esál and Bijugi would have appeared later in the genealogy.

Mpo occupies much of the southeastern corner of Cameroon, i.e. most of Boumba-et-Ngoko department and the southern edge of Kadey department. Mezime (Medjime) and Bagéto (Bangantou) live in the southern part of Mbang commune (department of Kadey), respectively to the west and east of the main town of Mbang.[1]

All other groups live in the department of Boumba-et-Ngoko (Eastern Region):[1]

In the commune of Moloundou, there are the Mpomam (Boman) to the north, the Esál (Essel) to the east along the Ngoko River, and the Kunabeeb to the west along the Dja River. The local government administration has sometimes confused the name "Bangantou" with the Mpo-speaking Bageto (in the commune of Mbang) together with the Ubangian-speaking Bangandu living north of Moloundou.[1]

The Mpo population is estimated at 45,000 speakers.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Binam Bikoi. Charles. 2012. Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM). Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon. 1: Inventaire des langues. fr. Yaoundé. CERDOTOLA. Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC). 9789956796069.