Kimbundu

1. Classification / Classification

Kimbundu belongs to the Kimbundu Group of Bantu (Guthrie H21). Kimbundu should not be confused with Umbundu (Guthrie R10). (Webbook)

Ethnologue lists the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, H, Mbundu (H.20)

2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique

It is spoken in the Angolan provinces of Luanda, Bengo, Malanje, and Cuauza-Norte. (Webbook)

3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs

3,000,000 (1999 WA) (Ethnologue)

4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte

According to Ethnologue:

• Njinga (Ginga, Jinga)
• Mbamba (Kimbamba, Bambeiro) (may be a separate language)
• Mbaka (Ambaquista)
• Ngola
• Related to Songo, Sama, Bolo
• Other related languages, dialects, ethnic, or alternate names:
  • Amboim (Mbuiyi)
  • Kibala (Quibala)
  • Lengue (Quilengue)
  • Ngage
  • Dembo of Cacuta Caenda
  • Ngengu
  • Bondo
  • Quembo
  • Mussende
  • Makamba (Macamba)

5. Usage / Utilisation

Kimbundu is one of the national languages of Angola and is being used in literacy projects in that country. (Webbook)

6. Orthography / Orthographe

6.1 Status / Statut

A UNESCO sponsored literacy project in 1981-1982 has possibly helped to standardize an orthography. Tone is not marked in these literacy materials. (Webbook)

This is a Latin-based orthography.

6.2 Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple

A sample text is given on the "Language Museum" site at: http://www.language-museum.com/m/mbundu-loanda.htm

7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC

7.1 Fonts / Polices

7.2 Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier

7.3 Content on computers & internet / Contenu en informatique et sur l'Internet

KITANGELU KYA NGONGO YA ITOKELU YA MUTHU (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/mlo.htm

7.4 Localized software / Logiciels localisés

Not aware of any.

7.5 Language codes / Codes de langue

• ISO 639-1: -
• ISO 639-2: kmb
• ISO/DIS 639-3: kmb

7.6 Other / Autre

8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation

8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)

8.2 Institutions / Institutions

8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile

9. Comments / Remarques

10. References / Références

Dwyer, David (1997), Webbook of African Languages, http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/hiermenu.html (page on "Kimbundu," http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/Kimbundu_root.html )

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Mbundu," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=kmb

SIL International, "ISO 639 Code Tables," http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/codes.asp

U.S. Library of Congress, "ISO 639.2: Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages: Alpha-3 codes arranged alphabetically by the English name of language," http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/English_list.php

Wikipedia, "Kimbundu," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimbundu

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