21-1185: YAF may stand for: yaf is the ISO 630 code for Yaka language (Congo–Angola) . Yaka language (Congo%E2%80%93Angola) Bantu language spoken in Angola and DRC For other languages with the name spoken in Congo, see Yaka language (disambiguation) . Yaka Iyaka Kiyaka Native to Democratic Republic of the Congo , Angola Ethnicity Yaka Native speakers 900,000 (2000) Language family Niger–Congo ? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu ( Zone H ) Kongo - Yaka Yaka languages Yaka Language codes ISO 639-3 Variously: yaf – Kiyaka noq – Ngoongo ppp – Pelende (duplicate code) lnz – Lonzo (duplicate code) Glottolog yaka1269 Guthrie code H.31 Yaka , also spelled Iaca and Iyaka ,
42-5911: A comprehensive review: online appendices v t e Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Official language French National languages Kongo Kituba Lingala Swahili ( Congo Swahili ) Tshiluba Indigenous languages (by province ) Bandundu Boma Chokwe Ding Hungana Kwese Lia-Ntomba Mbala Mpuono Nzadi Pende Sakata Sengele Shinji Sonde Suku Tiene Yaka Yansi Équateur Bala Bangi Bango Budza Central Banda Furu Losengo Mbaka Mbandja Mongo Mono Ndolo Ndunga Ngbaka Minagende Ngbandi Ngbinda Ngbundu Ngombe Pagibete Sango South Banda Yangere Kasai-Occidental Binji Bushong Chokwe Lele Lwalu Wongo Kasai-Oriental Budya Dengese Luna Nkutu Salampasu Songe Tetela Katanga Bangubangu Bemba Bwile Chokwe Hemba Kaonde Kebwe Luba-Katanga Lunda Ruund Sanga Tabwa Zela Yazi Kinshasa Mfinu Maniema Hendo Zimba Nord-Kivu Amba Havu Hunde Kinyarwanda Kirundi Nande Nyanga Talinga Tembo Vanuma Yaka Orientale Alur Asoa Avokaya Bangala Bangba Barambu Beeke Bila Budu Bwa Bwela Dongo Guru Hema Kaliko Kango (Bas-Uélé District) Kango (Tshopo District) Kari Kele Lendu Lese Lika Likile Linga Loki Logo Lombo Lugbara Ma Mangbetu Mangbutu Mayogo Mba Mbo Ndaka Ngbee Ngelima Nyali Nyanga-li Nzakara Omi Pambia Poke Soko Tagbo Zande Sud-Kivu Buyu Fuliiru Havu Kabwari Kinyarwanda Kirundi Shi Tembo Sign languages French African Sign v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) (by Guthrie classification ) Zone E [J]E10 [J]E11 Nyoro [J]E12 Tooro [J]E13 Nyankore [J]E14 Ciga [J]E15 Ganda [J]E16 Soga [J]E17 Gwere [J]E18 Nyala [JE101 Gungu JE102 Talinga-Bwisi JE103 Ruli JE121 Hema [J]E20 [J]E21 Nyambo [J]E22 Ziba [J]E23 Dzindza [J]E24 Kerebe [J]E25 Jita [JE221 Rashi JE251 Kwaya JE252 Kara JE253 Ruri [J]E30 [J]E31a Gisu [J]E31b Kisu [J]E31c Bukusu [J]E32a Hanga [J]E32b Tsotso [J]E33 Nyore [J]E34 Saamia [J]E35 Nyuli [JE341 Xaayo JE342 Marachi JE343 Songa [J]E40 [J]E41 Logooli [J]E42 Gusii [J]E43 Koria [J]E44 Zanaki [J]E45 Nata E46 Sonjo [JE401 Nguruimi JE402 Ikizu JE403 Suba / Suba-Simbiti JE404 Shashi JE405 Kabwa JE406 Singa JE407 Ware JE411 Idaxo JE412 Isuxa JE413 Tiriki JE431 Simbiti JE432 Hacha JE433 Surwa JE434 Sweta E50 E51 Kikuyu E52 Embu E53 Meru E54 Saraka E55 Kamba E56 Daiso [E531 Mwimbi-Muthambi E541 Cuka E60 E61[621a] Rwo E62a[621b,622a] Hai E62b[622c] Wunjo E62c[623] Rombo E63 Rusa E64 Kahe E65 Gweno E70 E71 Pokomo E72a Gyriama E72b Kauma E72c Conyi E72d Duruma E72e Rabai E73 Digo E74a Dabida E74b[741] Sagala [E701 Elwana E731 Segeju E732 Degere E74 Taita Zone F F10 F11 Tongwe F12 Bende [J]F20 [J]F21 Sukuma [J]F22 Nyamwezi [J]F23 Sumbwa [J]F24 Kimbu [J]F25 Bungu F30 F31 Nilamba F32 Remi F33 Langi F34 Mbugwe Zone G G10 G11 Gogo G12 Kaguru G20 G21 Tubeta G22 Asu G23 Shambala G24 Bondei [G221 Mbugu G30 G31 Zigula G32 Ngwele G33 Zaramo G34 Ngulu G35 Ruguru G36 Kami G37 Kutu G38 Vidunda G39 Sagala [G301 Doe G311 Mushungulu G40 G41 Tikuu G42a Amu G42b Mvita G42c Mrima G42d Unguja G43a Phemba G43b Tumbatu G43c Hadimu G44a Ngazija G44b Njuani [G402 Makwe G403 Mwani G404 Sidi G411 Socotra Swahili G412 Mwiini G50 G51 Pogolo G52 Ndamba G60 G61 Sango G62 Hehe G63 Bena G64 Pangwa G65 Kinga G66 Wanji G67 Kisi [G651 Magoma Zone H H10 H11 Beembe H12 Vili H13 Kunyi H14 Ndingi H15 Mboka H16a South Kongo H16b Central Kongo H16c Yombe H16d Fiote H16e Bwende H16f Laadi H16g East Kongo H16h Southeast Kongo [H111 Hangala H112 Kamba - Doondo H131 Suundi H20 H21a Kimbundu H21b Mbamba H22 Sama H23 Bolo H24 Songo H30 H31 Yaka H32 Suku H33 [L12b] Hungu H34 Mbangala H35 Sinji [H321 Soonde H40 H41 Mbala H42 Hunganna Italics indicate extinct languages . Languages between parentheses are varieties of
63-485: A language of communication. Additionally, French has become a native language among the middle and upper class in cities like Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. French has been reported to be spoken natively by around 12% of the DRC, with just under 12 million speakers in large cities. The constitution says Kikongo is one of the national languages, but in fact it is a Kikongo-based creole, Kituba ( Kikongo ya Leta "Kikongo of
84-865: Is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola . There are two dialects, Yaka proper, which comprises 99% of speakers, and Ngoongo (distinguish West Ngongo language ). The alleged varieties Pelende and Lonzo are political rather than ethnolinguistic entities. References [ edit ] ^ Kiyaka at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Ngoongo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Pelende (duplicate code) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) Lonzo (duplicate code) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online ^ Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions:
105-823: The East Kasai Region ( Luba people ) and Luba-Lulua is used in the West Kasai Region among the Bena Lulua people . Luba-Kasai seems to be the language used by the administration. A related language, known as Luba-Katanga , is spoken in Katanga Province . The most notable other languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are Mashi , Mongo , Lunda , Kilega , Tetela , Chokwe , Budza , Ngbandi , Lendu , Mangbetu , Yombe , Nande , Ngbaka , Zande , Lugbara , Kifuliiru and Komo . Considerable numbers of people in eastern Congo speak Kinyarwanda . As of 2010
126-491: The colonial period , is French , one of the languages of Belgium . Four other languages, all of them Bantu based, have the status of national language : Kikongo-Kituba , Lingala , Swahili and Tshiluba . Democratic Republic of the Congo is a Francophone country, where, as of 2024, 55.393 million (50.69%) out of 109.276 million people speak French and 74% report using French as a lingua franca . In 2024 there were over 12 million native French speakers, or around 12% of
147-563: The Congo, unlike the French speakers who did not hesitate to teach their language. In 1954, in response to the demands of the Congolese themselves, the Belgian Minister of Education Auguste Buisseret adopted the principle of providing education in French in the Congo from the following year, a concession intended above all to calm the ardor independentists. The measure is however strongly opposed by
168-507: The DRC has many similarities with Belgian French . French has been maintained as the official language since the time of independence because it is widely spoken in the capital of the country-Kinshasa, it belongs to none of the indigenous ethnic groups and eases communication between them as well as with the rest of the Francophonie , which includes many African countries. According to a 2018 OIF report, 42.5 million Congolese people (50.6% of
189-688: The DRC, spread throughout the territory, with very isolated groups. Dutch speakers are very scattered over the vastness of the Congolese territory. It is spoken by older people, but also by younger people, and the number of native speakers is unknown. Dutch speakers are most often perfectly bilingual French/Dutch, Dutch/Lingala, or Dutch/English. Due to its isolation from the Dutch spoken in Europe, it tends to have incorporated many French, English, or Lingala words. Former president Kabila grew up and studied in Tanzania; English
210-661: The Democratic Republic of the Congo Languages of Angola Hidden categories: Pages containing links to subscription-only content Language articles citing Ethnologue 18 Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a multilingual country where an estimated total of 242 languages are spoken. Ethnologue lists 215 living languages. The official language , since
231-646: The Flemish and Catholic right which advocates the continuation of education in local languages, and supported by the French-speaking and anticlerical left. Dutch was not retained as one of the official languages in 1961, and its teaching was completely stopped in 1970. It was nevertheless still spoken by approximately 200,000 people in 1980. In February 2014, the embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands indicated that there were approximately 420,000 Dutch speakers of all ages in
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#1732855546728252-573: The French language was necessary to obtain a promotion in the colony and the Dutch-speakers were therefore more dispersed in the provinces while the French-speakers were grouped together in the cities. Yet the vast majority of Catholic missionaries, priests and nuns sent to the Congo were Flemish. Speaking different Dutch dialects, the Flemings however preferred to teach in the indigenous languages of
273-460: The colonial period, with the push of missionaries to standardize and teach a local lingua franca . It was originally spoken in the upper Congo river area but rapidly spread to the middle Congo area and eventually became the major Bantu language in Kinshasa. Lingala was made the official language of the army under Mobutu , but since the rebellions, the army has also used Swahili in the east. With
294-599: The country, and most teach French Sign Language or variations. American Sign Language is also practiced in the country. Dutch , one of the languages of Belgium , was the historical second language of the Congo State from 1885 to 1908 and of the Belgian Congo from 1908 to 1960, and during this period its archives were bilingual French/Dutch. However, French was largely favored by the Belgian administration. A good knowledge of
315-404: The government decided to include Portuguese as an optional language at schools as a response to Brazil's increasing influence on the continent, and of the growing and considerable Angolan and Mozambican immigrant communities. Among the various forms of slang spoken in the Congo, Indubil has been noted since around the 1960s and continues to evolve today. There are 12 deaf institutions in
336-509: The government", Leta being derived from French l'État "the State") that is used in the constitution and by the administration in the provinces of Bas-Congo (which is inhabited by the Bakongo ), Kwango , and Kwilu . Kituba has become a vehicular language in many urban centres including Kikwit , Bandundu , Matadi , Boma and Muanda . Lingala is a language which gained its modern form in
357-831: The language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) Authority control databases [REDACTED] National United States France BnF data Israel Other IdRef Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yaka_language_(Congo–Angola)&oldid=1211902042 " Categories : Yaka languages Languages of
378-458: The local dialect of Swahili is known as Congo Swahili and differs considerably from Standard Swahili . Many variations of Congo Swahili are spoken in the country but the major one is Kingwana, sometimes called Copperbelt Swahili , especially in the Katanga area. The constitution does not specify which of the two major variations of Tshiluba is the national language. Luba-Kasai is spoken in
399-462: The population) can read and write in French. In the capital city Kinshasa , 67% of the population can read and write French, and 68.5% can speak and understand it. The Democratic Republic of the Congo currently has the largest population of any country with French as its official language. According to a 2021 survey, French was the most spoken language in the country: a total of 74% of Congolese (79% of men, and 68% of women) reported using French as
420-461: The population. When the country was a Belgian colony, it had already instituted teaching and use of the four national languages in primary schools, making it one of the few African nations to have had literacy in local languages during the European colonial period. French is the official language of the country since its colonial period under Belgian rule. Therefore, the variety of French used in
441-561: The transition period and the consolidation of different armed groups into the Congolese Army, the linguistic policy has returned to its previous form and Lingala is again the official language of the Army. A 2021 survey found that Lingala was the second-most spoken language in the country, used by 59% of the population. Swahili is the most widespread lingua franca in East Africa . In Congo,
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