Central Banda language

Central Banda
Central Banda
Native to	Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan
Native speakers	(580,000 cited 1984–1996)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta–Congo Savanna? Ubangian Banda Central Central Banda; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Variously:; liy – Banda-Bambari; bpd – Banda-Banda; bqk – Banda-Mbrès; bfl – Banda-Ndélé; tor – Togbo-Vara Banda; bjo – Mid-Southern Banda; gox – Gobu; kuw – Kpagua; mnh – Mono; nue – Ngundu
Glottolog	cent2022

Central Banda is a dialect continuum of the Banda languages spoken by around one million people,^{[citation needed]} 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

		Labial	Alveolar	Post- alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Labial- velar	Glottal
Plosive/ Affricate	voiceless	p	t	tʃ		k	kp	ʔ
	voiced	b	d	dʒ		ɡ	ɡb
	prenasal	ᵐb	ⁿd	ⁿdʒ		ᵑɡ	ᵑᵐɡb
Fricative	voiceless	f	s	ʃ				h
	voiced	v	z	ʒ
	prenasal	ᶬv	ⁿz
Nasal		m	n		ɲ
Tap/Flap		ⱱ	ɾ
Lateral			l
Approximant					j		w

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i	ɨ	u
Close-mid	e	ə	o
Open-mid		ə	ɔ
Open		a

Tone

Vowel tones are: rising /ǎ/, falling /â/, mid /ā/, low /à/, and high /á/.^[2]^[3]

Varieties

Central Banda language varieties listed by Moñino (1988):^[4]

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.^[5]

Demographics

Demographics of Central Banda language varieties as synthesized from Moñino (1988)^[4] and Nougayrol (1989):^[5]

Language	Villages	Population	Clans	Notes	Countries
Bàndà-Bàndà
Bàndà-Kpaya					(only in South Sudan)
Bàndà-Ndele
Bèrèyà
Bòngò
Búkà
Burú	Kúyàrà	25	Màtià	Kpata road; near Gbàyà of Krakə̀mâl; also in Bahr el Ghazal, migrated during the Zubayr era (ca. 1930)	(only in South Sudan)
Dabùrù	Ndagra	20	Kɔ̀tɔ̀, Ngòmbe, Ngulú (Kpata), Ndubu (Kpata and Ndagra)	Kpata road
Dabùrù	Kpàtà	380		Kpata road
Dabùrù	Miskin	30		recent satellite of Jamsinda
Dùkpù					(also in South Sudan)
Gài	Zòkùtùɲálà		Tulu	Haraz road
Gài	Batéle ́		Tulu	Ndélé
Galabò
Gbàgà	Mia Fɔ̀ndɔ̀	90	Gbə̀lè, Gùməli, Mabiri, Vidi, Yàkpà
Gbàgà	Kàká	some
Gbàgà	Kòv̂òngò Mia	70	Vidi, Yúdà
Gbàgà	Ngú Sua	60	Kupi, Mbízà, Ngìàlúgù/Ngèlúgù/Njùlúgù, Vóndò
Gbàgà	Gbàkó Lìkpà	65	Vidi
Gbàgà	Bangora̱	155	Dámbasí/Dámbacé, Kòlògbò, làngbà
Gbàgà	Dàngàvo	50	Kòlògbò, Yàkpà
Gbàgà	Yambala Màgùndà	80	Mɔnɔ, Vàngà
Gbàgà	Vátá	170	Banga, Manja, poro, Tàngbàgò, Tògbò, Yàngbà
Gbàgà	Vavú	?
Gbàgà	Bu Mbàlà	45, with Gbaya	Banga, Dákpá, Mòngò, Vidi
Gbàgà	Bàmingi 1, 2	650	Gbàyà, Gùməli, Ngìàlúgù/Ngèlúgù/Njùlúgù, Sìmi/Cìmi, Vidi
Gbàgà	Yangú Gàlá	30	Báláwà	with the Mbele
Gbàgà	Yambala Kùdùvèlé	90	Dámbasí/Dámbacé, Kpòʔòrò, Ngìàlúgù/Ngèlúgù/Njùlúgù, Sìmi/Cìmi, Wádà, Wójò, Yúdà
Gbàgà	Jamsinda	some		Golongoso road
Gbambiya
Gbàyà	Krakə̀mâ 1	210	Àbátà, Lòngbò, Tulu, Yàma	Kpata road
Gbàyà	Krakə̀mâ 2	80	Gbòngó, Gbókóló, ɲamô
Gbàyà	Ngú Yambrì	40	ɲamô
Gbàyà	Bu Mbàlà		Lìwu	some families; on Gangui road, on the outskirts of Gbaga
Gbòngó	Takara	170	7 - Danbùrù, Gbàngárà, Ndì, Ngàmbeà, Ngulú, Wɔlɔ́, Yàndè	Kpata road
Govo	Ndélé			?
Gòv̂òrò					(only in South Sudan)
Gubú					(also in DR Congo)
Hàì
Jòtò
Júnguru	Batéle 2 (Ndélé) and Idòngó			originally from Kpula, and were subjects of Zubayr	(also in South Sudan)
Kâ
Kɔ̀nɔ́	Batéle 2 (Ndélé)			some families
Kpágùà					(also in DR Congo)
Lìndá	Lìndá 1			Ngbɔ̀lɔ̀ngɔ̀jɔ̀
Lìndá	Lìndá 2			Mbìà
Lìndá	formerly Kùcù Kakú
Lìndá	some in Ndele			Ngàò
Manja	Batéle 1 (Ndélé cluster)	180	Bòkèngè, Bìsènge	some families in Kubu and Jamsinda (Golongoso road)
Mbanja					(only in DR Congo)
Mbanza					(also in DR Congo)
Mbàtá	Zòkùtùɲálà	340	250	Haraz road
Mbàtá	Ndélé			1 neighborhood
Mbele	Yangú Doro	40
Mbele	Yangú Líká	30	Ngìndì
Mbele	Yangú Gàlá		Mbrua	some families living with the Muruba
Mbele	Yambala Kùdùvèlé			some families living with the Muruba
Mbele	Jamsinda		Mbrua	some families (on Golongoso road)
Mùrùbà	Dungu Yangú	105	Yagua	with the Ngao
Mùrùbà	Biʃi Ngú 1	75	Kàgárà	with the Ngapo
Mùrùbà	Gbà Lə́bà	100	Gbanga
Mùrùbà	Yangú Ngav̂ala	30	Gbózu Yavóró, Kàdá
Mùrùbà	Kàgà Nzê	45	Kpèyí
Mùrùbà	Ngú Mburu	25	Ngbə̀lɛ́lɛ́
Mùrùbà	Mbí Ngú	45	Gbanga
Mùrùbà	Muruba	250	Bongo	2 neighborhoods
Mùrùbà	Sajara	130	Gàràwá, Kpèyí, Ngbalá, Sògbòrò	2 neighborhoods
Mùrùbà	Kassaï		Gbanga, Kpèyí, Wàndè	some families
Mùrùbà	Kro Pálíá			some families
Mùrùbà	Jamsinda			some families
Mùrùbà	Kubu			some families; Golongoso road
Nbìyì
Ndi
Ndòkà Njùlúgù	Ádùm Mindu	250		Bangui road
Ndòkpà
Ngàjà	Ndélé			some families
Ngàò	Yangú Brinjì	155	Sàngàsà
Ngàò	Ngú Jáká	200	Kàbà	Kpata road
Ngàò	Mbólò 1	295	Gbúlú
Ngàò	Mbólò 2	25	Gòv̂òrò
Ngàò	Mbólò 3	260	Lìwà
Ngàò	Mbólò 4	60	Gbòngó
Ngàò	Gbə̀tì ə́njo	35	Dòdòrò
Ngàò	Kə́lə́ Bítì	145	Dòdòrò
Ngàò	Vùngbá	55	Dòdòrò
Ngàò	Yàfò	30	Jùmə̀là	Bangoran road
Ngàò	Kàká	120	Ndákpá
Ngàò	Dungu Yangú	105	Dòdòrò	with the Muruba
Ngàò	Ngàò Ndákpá	55	Nivu (?)
Ngàò	Kassaï			some families
Ngàò	Kro Pálíá			some families
Ngápó	Gbà Njípri	33	Gbàrə̀	Bangoran road
Ngápó	Gbà Lə́bà	100	Dìgàò, Zàgò	Bangui road; with the Muruba
Ngápó	Kassaï
Ngápó	Ndélé
Ngbalá	Ndyiri		Gbà Lábà	7 villages and clans
Ngbalá	Ídòngó		Dèngè
Ngbalá	Ngú Gua (Gbɔ̀kɔ́)
Ngbalá	Yangú Bə̀ (Wá Ngato)
Ngbalá	Ngú Mbrì (Wàkà)
Ngbalá	Ngú Tàgbà (Ngèlè)
Ngbalá	Bangora̱ Gudèrè (Mɔ̀ʔɔ́)
Ngòlà	Ndele
Ngòlà	Jamsinda			Golongoso road
Ngùndù
Sàbángà	Gbə̀tì ə́ Njo		Vəjà	Bangoran road
Sàbángà	Yangú Gàlá			Bangui road
Sàra Dìnjo	ɲango (Bangui road)	130		some Sàra Ngàma from Chad also joined recently
Southern Gbàgà
Tàngbàgò	Ngú Sua Torofay	450 total	Gbòngó, Gài	Bangoran road	(also in South Sudan)
Tàngbàgò	Tolísiò		Àngbé	Bangoran road
Tàngbàgò	Biʃi Ngú 2		Bílí	Bangui road
Tàngbàgò	Sa Kùmbá		Mbákàná	Bangui road
Tàngbàgò	Dungu Yangú		Mbákàná	some families
Tògbò					(also in South Sudan)
Tulu	Dèò	35	Gèndè, Manja, Ngàyà, Ngàò	Kpata road
Tulu	Wî Fran	185	Kagba, Ngulú
Tulu	Batéle 3	200	Gèndè, Kagba, Ngulú, Ngbenda, Ngàjà
Tulu	Kro Pálíá			Ndélé
Vàrà					(also in South Sudan)
Vídìrì (Mvédèrè)					(also in South Sudan)
Wádà	Kubu			Golongoso road; originally from Ouadda region, in Ndélé	(also in South Sudan)
Wádà	Batéle 2	Ndélé
Wasá	Batéle 2	Ndélé		some families	(also in South Sudan)
Wùndù					(only in South Sudan)
Yakpà					(also in DR Congo)
Yàngere

References

^ Banda-Bambari at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Mbrès at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Ndélé at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Togbo-Vara Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Mid-Southern Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
(Additional references under 'Language codes' in the information box)
^ Sampson, Douglas L. (1985). The phonology of Banda-Tangbago. In Schuh, Russell G. (ed.), Papers from the fifteenth conference on African linguistics: Los Angeles: University of California. pp. 269–274.
^ Hartell, Rhonda L. (1993). Alphabets des langues africaines. UNESCO and Société Internationale de Linguistique.
^ ^a ^b Moñino, Yves (1988). Lexique comparatif des langues oubanguiennes. Paris: Geuthner.
^ ^a ^b Nougayrol, Pierre. 1989. Les Groupes Banda du Bamingui-Bangoran (RCA). Révue d'Ethnolinguistique (Cahiers du LACITO) 4: 197-208.

[e18-1] Banda-Bambari at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Mbrès at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Banda-Ndélé at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Togbo-Vara Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Mid-Southern Banda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
(Additional references under 'Language codes' in the information box)

[2] Sampson, Douglas L. (1985). The phonology of Banda-Tangbago. In Schuh, Russell G. (ed.), Papers from the fifteenth conference on African linguistics: Los Angeles: University of California. pp. 269–274.

[3] Hartell, Rhonda L. (1993). Alphabets des langues africaines. UNESCO and Société Internationale de Linguistique.

[Monino-4] Moñino, Yves (1988). Lexique comparatif des langues oubanguiennes. Paris: Geuthner.

[Nougayrol-5] Nougayrol, Pierre. 1989. Les Groupes Banda du Bamingui-Bangoran (RCA). Révue d'Ethnolinguistique (Cahiers du LACITO) 4: 197-208.

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