Geog Mystry #6

Joy Prior
Geo 120
Sec 005
Mystery #6
Geographic Mysteries – 120
Mystery #6

What are the main languages in the Congo Democratic Republic and where are their main areas of dominance?
I scrolled through what seemed like hundreds of languages, and all of the boarders of the languages over lapped one another. To top it off the political boundaries helped little, because the language boundaries were more like distracting patches throughout the region than guidelines. Kituba and Lingala were known as the southern and northern languages, but even with that as a guideline there were multiple languages spoken in those regions. The diversity of languages would be like people in Salt Lake City speaking a different language than people in Provo, and the people in Manti would have a language all their own. Something simple like stopping at a gas station to ask for directions would be impossible if all of these areas spoke different languages.
It was a very revealing geographic mystery as I realized how the multiple languages would effect the politics and trade. If the country wanted to publish a legal document it would have to be translated into several languages. A trader would have to speak multiple languages in order to trade goods with just neighboring areas. The only solution in my mind would be for people to speak multiple languages, but then there is the problem of proficiency. There could also be a single language that everyone spoke (French) but that discuses cultural and heritage diversity that would enrich and give confidence to the people.

The Kituba language is one of the languages spoken between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire of Congo. From a 1987 survey an approximate 1,160,000 people speak this language in this area. A few of the words spoken in the language are:
diaki egg
nduku friend
ndosi dream
ngoma drum
kanza cobra
kiteki idol, statue of deity
The Lingala language is one of the languages spoken mainly in Brazzaville and the northern parts of Congo. From a 2000 survey an approximate 90,600 people speak this language in this area. A few of the words spoken in the language are:
m ánt éka butter
m ésa table
sap átu shoes
Miliki milk
b úku book
The Bembe language is one of the languages spoken mainly in the Bouenza region, and Mouyondzi district of Congo. From a 2004 survey an approximate 3,200 people speak this language in this area. A few of the words spoken in the language are:
ʃíta buy
βaka to take care of
mɷnʃíla on the road
imiti medicine
umuti tree
maka moral strength
The Kaamba language is one of the languages spoken mainly in the Bouenza region, and Nkayi, Madingou, Mfouati, and Boko-Songho districts of Congo. From a 2000 survey an approximate 3,200 people speak this language in this area. A few of the words spoken in the language are:
kuʃjɑɑ give birth
imɑʔ grow up!
ɔɔsɑʔ he picked up
ŋɔmbɛ cow
nduʔ thin, small knees
ɛɛ Mr.
ɪɪ yes
ii these (animals)
The Kukuya or Southern Teke language is one of the languages spoken mainly in the plateaux province, and lekana district of Congo. Approximate 47,000 people speak this language in this area. A few of the words spoken in the language are:
kuya "plateau".
kì-ɱààlà to laugh at
ɱíì eyes
kì-bvànàmà to shake with fear
ɱáanà baby

















Work Cited Page

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Teke Language. Museum of Learning: Explore a Virtual Museum of Knowledge. (2011) Web. February 2011. Online version: http://www.museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Teke_language.

Teke, Southern of Congo, Republic of the. Joshua Project: People-in-Country Profile. Web. February 2011. Online version: http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15068&rog3=CF.

Towns and villages. enotes.com. (2011). Web. February 2011. Online version: http://www.enotes.com/topic/Madingou_District.

Walter Henry Stapleton. Comparative Handbook of Congo Languages. University of Virginia Charlottesville Library. Yakusu, Stanley Falls, Congo Independent State. (1903). Print.

Word List for Bemba. The UCLA Phonetics Lab Archive. (2009). Web. February 2011. Online version: http://archive.phonetics.ucla.edu/Language/BEM/bem_word-list_1986_01.html.

Word List for Kamba. The UCLA Phonetics Lab Archive. (2009). Web. February 2011. Online version: http://archive.phonetics.ucla.edu/Language/BEM/bem_word-list_1986_01.html.