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Baldemu language

{{Short description|Chadic language spoken in Cameroon}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Baldemu

|altname=Mbazlam

|nativename=Baldare

|states=Cameroon

|region=Far North Province

|coordinates = {{coord|10|51|N|14|38|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}

|ethnicity=

|speakers=4

|date=2003

|ref=e18

|familycolor=Afro-Asiatic

|fam2=Chadic

|fam3=Biu–Mandara

|fam4=North

|fam5=MarouaGravina, R. (2011). Internal classification of Chadic Biu-Mandara. In Topics in Chadic Linguistics VI, Papers from the 5th Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages (pp. 67-84).

|iso3=bdn

|glotto=bald1241

|glottorefname=Baldemu

}}

Baldemu, or Mbazlam, is a nearly extinct Afro-Asiatic language spoken in northern Cameroon. Baldamu is spoken in Bogo commune, Diamaré department, Far North Region by only 5 speakers as of 2012.{{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}} Speakers have been shifting to Fulfulde.

Name

The language is (or was) known as Baldemu or Baldare to its speakers.Brye, E. (2003). [http://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/9141 A rapid appraisal language survey of the Baldemu language]. SIL Electronic Survey Reports, 15, 13. It is sometimes rendered Baldamu, Balda, Mbazlam, or Mbazla.

Baldamu is mentioned in Bryan and Westermann's Handbook of African Languages under the name Balda, suspected to be only a toponym. It is most closely related to Giziga, Mofu Duvangar, and Mofu Gudur according to C. Seignobos and H. Tourneux.

Status

Since migrating from the surrounding mountains to the village of Balda, Baldemu speakers have shifted to Fulfulde. Baldemu speakers who migrated to Kaélé similarly shifted to Mundang.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • MacEachern, S. (2002). Residuals and resistance: Languages and history in the Mandara Mountains. When languages collide: Perspectives on language conflict, language competition and language coexistence, 21-44.
  • Seignobos, C., & Tourneux, H. (1984). Note sur les Baldamu et leur langue (Nord-Cameroun). Africana Marburgensia, 17(1), 13-30.
  • Tourneux, H. (1987). Note complémentaire sur les Baldamu et leur langue. Africana Marburgensia, 20(1), 52-58.

External links

  • [http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/539 Baldemu] at the Endangered Languages Project

{{Languages of Cameroon}}

{{Biu–Mandara languages}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Biu-Mandara languages

Category:Languages of Cameroon

Category:Endangered Afroasiatic languages

Category:Endangered languages of Africa

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