Nagumi language

Nagumi
Ngong
RegionCameroon
Extinctby 1983
Language codes
ISO 639-3ngv
Glottolognagu1244
ELPNgong

Nagumi, also known as Ngong (Gong, Puuri) and Mbama (Bama), is an extinct Jarawan language of the North Province of Cameroon.

History

By 1910, Nagumi was "mostly forgotten"; F. Strümpell could only collect a few words from an old blind man in Alhajin Galibu. H. Baudelaire also collected numerals in Nagumi from 1 to 10. By 1983, Nagumi was extinct. Ngong had only two fluent speakers in 1974.

Classification

Nagumi is classified as an independent member of the Jarawan language family.

Vocabulary

Numerals

The numeral fade 'four' in Nagumi originates from an unknown Chadic language.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Atlas Linguistique de l'Afrique Centrale: Le Cameroun (PDF). 1983.
  2. 1 2 3 Maddieson, Ian; Williamson, Kay (2017-09-18) [1975], "Jarawan Bantu", African Languages/Langues Africaines (1 ed.), Routledge, pp. 125–163, doi:10.4324/9781315104102-6, ISBN 978-1-315-10410-2, retrieved 2026-07-17
  3. ↑ Blench, Roger (2024-01-01). "Jarawan Bantu: a new look at an orphan group". Bantoid II Conference, Yaounde.