| Sawabantu | |
|---|---|
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | sawa1251 |
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Sawabantu languages are a group ofBantu languages that are spoken inCameroon,Equatorial Guinea andGabon.
The group consists mostly of zones A.20 and A.30 of Guthrie's classification, and most likely also part of zone A.10. According to Nurse and Philipps on (2003), the A.20 and A.30 languages, apart from theBubi language, form a valid node. The most important of these languages isDuala, which is a vehicular language.[citation needed]
The nameSawabantu is made up of two words:sawa, which means "coast" inDuala, andBantu. The name was proposed in 1989 by the Cameroonian linguist Carl Ebobissé.[1]
Besides the A.20 and A.30 languages, the Orokodialect cluster of A.10 seems to be clearly connected to the Sawabantu group:[2]
The A.20 languages are spoken around theWouri estuary and in the anglophone region aroundMount Cameroon. The A.30 languages are spoken along the Atlantic coast of southern Cameroon down to northernGabon. These two geographic groups are clearly related; for example, Limba (Malimba, A.26) report some degree of mutual intelligibility with Tanga (Batanga, A.32), which they call "Old Malimba".[3] Oroko is spoken inNdian andMeme departments in theSouthwest Region of Cameroon. Oroko appears to be particularly close to Kpwe (A.22), with which mutual intelligibility might be possible to some extent.[4]
TheBube language ofBioko Island (not to be confused with Bubia or Wovea) included in A.30 on geographic grounds, has no particular affinities with the others.[citation needed]
Other A.10 languages apart from theManenguba cluster (A.15 excluding Bafaw-Balong) may also belong, but this is uncertain as they are poorly documented. They are:
A survey is needed to determine whether these are genetically related to Sawabantu.[citation needed]
Duala is the vehicular language of theSawa, spoken and understood throughout the coastal region, even by non-Sawabantu native speakers such as theBasaa of Douala, theBakoko, the Bankon, and theManenguba.[citation needed]
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