View source for Mbum language

{{Short description|Adamawa language of Cameroon}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Mbum
| altname          = Mboum, Buna, Mboumtiba and Wuna
| states           = [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]]
| speakers         = {{sigfig|51,100|2}}
| date             = 1982–1996
| ref              = e25
| familycolor      = Niger-Congo
| fam2             = [[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]]
| fam3             = [[Volta-Congo]]
| fam4             = [[Savannas languages|North]]
| fam5             = [[Adamawa–Ubangi languages|Adamawa–Ubangi]]
| fam6             = [[Adamawa languages|Adamawa]]
| glotto           = mbum1254
| glottorefname    = Mbum
| dia1             = 
| iso3             = mdd
| fam7             = [[Mbum–Day languages|Mbum–Day]]
| fam8             = [[Mbum languages|Mbum]]
}}

'''Mbum Proper''' (also '''Mboum, Buna, Mboumtiba and Wuna)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mbum language, pronunciation and language |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/mbum.htm |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=omniglot.com}}</ref> is a [[Adamawa–Ubangi languages|Adamawa–Ubangi]] language of [[Central Africa]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=AFRICA {{!}} 101 Last Tribes - Mbum people |url=https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/mbum.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=www.101lasttribes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WALS Online - Language Mbum |url=https://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_mbm |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=wals.info}}</ref><ref name=e25/> It is spoken by about {{sigfig|51,100|1}} people in [[Cameroon]] and the [[Central African Republic]].<ref name=e25/>

==History==
The Mbum language is spoken by the [[Mbum people]] who inhabit Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Chad. While their origins are unclear, some believe that the Mbum were one of the earliest ethnic groups of the [[Adamawa Region]].<ref name=":0" />

The Mbum people have such a close relationship with the [[Dii languages|Dii people]], and one which has persisted for so long, that outsiders often have a hard time distinguishing them.<ref name=":0" /> In the early nineteenth century, both groups came under the rule of the [[Fula people|Fulani]] Muslims, who they are said to have intermarried in large numbers. Despite this, the Mbum and Dii peoples still managed to hold on to their traditional spiritual beliefs until the twentieth century. The Mbum converted to [[Islam]], while the Dii converted to [[Christianity]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=DeLancey |first=Mark Dike |title=Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon |last2=Neh Mbuh |first2=Rebecca |last3=DeLancey |first3=Mark W. |publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0810837751 |location=Lanham, Maryland • Toronto • Plymouth, UK |pages=283-284 |language=English}}</ref>

==Varieties==
Mbum is a complex [[dialect continuum]] consisting of several varieties. ''ALCAM'' (2012) considers ''Mbum'', ''Larang'', ''Pana'' and ''Gbata'' to be four distinct but closely related languages. Pana (also spoken in Chad), Karang, Kali-dek and Kuo are eastern varieties that may be separate languages.<ref name="ALCAM2012">{{cite book|editor-last=Binam Bikoi|editor-first=Charles|date=2012|title=Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM)|trans-title=Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon|volume=1: Inventaire des langues|language=fr|location=Yaoundé|publisher=CERDOTOLA|series=Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC)|isbn=9789956796069}}</ref>

To the south, ''Gbata'' is spoken in the northern part of the arrondissement of [[Bélabo]] in [[Lom-et-Djerem]] department, Eastern Region. There, it is spoken in Woutchaba and Deng-Deng, located to the west and east of the [[Sanaga River]], respectively.<ref name="ALCAM2012"/> Blench (2006) considers Gbete (Gbata) to be a separate language.

The LiMbum is spoken to the South West especially in the Donga Mantung and around the Nkambe and Ndu Sub Divisions.

==Distribution==
Mbum is spoken in:<ref name="ALCAM2012"/>

*Adamaoua Region
**[[Vina department]] ([[Ngaoundéré]] and [[Mbe, Cameroon|Mbe]] communes)
**[[Djerem]] department ([[Ngaoundal]] and [[Tibati]] communes)
**[[Faro-et-Déo]] department ([[Tignère]] communes)
*North Region
**[[Mayo-Rey]] department ([[Touboro]] commune)
**[[Faro department]] ([[Poli, Cameroon|Poli]] commune)
* North West Region*
Limbum is spoken in the Donga Mantung Particularly in Ndu and Nkambe Subdivisions.

== Phonology ==

=== Consonants ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Labialized velar consonant|Labio-<br>velar]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|{{IPA link|ɲ}}
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|
|-
! rowspan="4" |[[Plosive]]/<br>[[Affricate]]
!<small>voiceless</small>
|{{IPA link|p}}
|{{IPA link|t}}
|
|{{IPA link|k}}
|{{IPA link|k͡p}}
|
|-
!<small>voiced</small>
|{{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPA link|d}}
|
|{{IPA link|ɡ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡ͡b}}
|
|-
!<small>prenasal</small>
|{{IPA link|ᵐb}}
|{{IPA link|ⁿd}}
|
|{{IPA link|ᵑɡ}}
|{{IPA link|ᵑᵐɡ͡b}}
|
|-
!<small>implosive</small>
|{{IPA link|ɓ}}
|{{IPA link|ɗ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[Fricative]]
!<small>voiceless</small>
|{{IPA link|f}}
|{{IPA link|s}}
|
|
|
|{{IPA link|h}}
|-
!<small>voiced</small>
|{{IPA link|v}}
|{{IPA link|z}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!<small>prenasal</small>
|{{IPA link|ᶬv}}
|{{IPA link|ⁿz}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Trill consonant|Trill]]/[[Tap and flap consonants|Tap]]
|{{IPA link|ⱱ}}
|{{IPA link|r}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
|
|{{IPA link|l}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant]]
|
|
|{{IPA link|j}}
|
|{{IPA link|w}}
|
|}

=== Vowels ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|{{IPA link|i}} {{IPA link|ĩ}}
|
|{{IPA link|u}} {{IPA link|ũ}}
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|{{IPA link|e}}
|
|{{IPA link|o}}
|-
![[Open vowel|Open]]
|
|{{IPA link|a}} {{IPA link|ã}}
|
|}
<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hagège |first=Claude |title=Descriptions phonologique du mbum: informations |publisher=SELAF Paris: Peeters |year=1968}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*Roger Blench, 2004. [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/AU/Adamawa%20language%20list.pdf List of Adamawa languages] (ms)

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160914172853/http://www-01.sil.org/silesr/2002/SILESR2002-050.pdf A rapid appraisal survey of Gbete] by Jason Diller & Kari Jordan-Diller, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-050.

{{Adamawa languages}}
{{Languages of Cameroon}}
{{Languages of the Central African Republic}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbum Language}}
[[Category:Languages of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Mbum languages]]