Central Banda language
Central Banda is a dialect continuum of the Banda languages spoken by around one million people, primarily in the Central African Republic. The varieties may be mutually intelligible, especially the Mid-Southern–Gobu–Kpagua–Mono–Ngundu cluster. The other varieties are Bambari, Banda-Banda, Mbrès, Ndélé, and Togbo-Vara Banda.
Phonology
The following is the Banda-Tangbago dialect:
Consonants
Vowels
Tone
Vowel tones are: rising /ǎ/, falling /â/, mid /ā/, low /à/, and high /á/.
Varieties
Central Banda language varieties listed by Moñino (1988):
- Yakpà (also in DR Congo); Gubú (also in DR Congo); Kpágùà (also in DR Congo); Ngùndù, Bòngò, Wasá (also in South Sudan); Dùkpù (also in South Sudan) Further information:Dukpu people
- Lìndá, Jòtò, Ndòkpà, Ngápó
- Southern Gbàgà, Nbìyì, Bèrèyà, Ngòlà, Ndi, Kâ, Gbambiya, Hàì, Galabò, Vídìrì (Mvédèrè) (also in South Sudan), Bàndà-Bàndà, Burú (only in South Sudan), Wùndù (only in South Sudan), Gòv̂òrò (only in South Sudan)
- Bàndà-Ndele (Govo, Ngàjà, Gbòngó, Mbàtá, Gbàyà, Tulu, and Dabùrù groups), Bàndà-Kpaya (only in South Sudan), Ngàò, Ngbalá, Tàngbàgò (also in South Sudan), Júnguru (also in South Sudan)
- Mbere, Búkà, Mòrùbà, Sàbángà, Wádà (also in South Sudan)
- Vàrà (also in South Sudan), Tògbò (also in South Sudan)
- Yàngere
Nougayrol (1989) also lists Kɔ̀nɔ́, Manja, Ndòkà, Njùlúgù, and Sàra Dìnjo.
Demographics
Demographics of Central Banda language varieties as synthesized from Moñino (1988) and Nougayrol (1989):