Lega language
Bantu language spoken in DR Congo / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lega is a Bantu language, or dialect cluster, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are two major varieties, Shabunda Lega and Mwenga Lega; Mwenga Lega, with about 10% of speakers, finds Shabunda difficult to understand. Kanu has been assigned a separate ISO code but is a dialect of Shabunda, and no more divergent than other dialects.
Quick Facts Native to, Ethnicity ...
Lega | |
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Native to | DR Congo |
Ethnicity | Lega |
Native speakers | (450,000 cited 1982–2000)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
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Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | Variously:lea – Shabunda Legalgm – Mwenga Legakhx – Kanuktf – Kwami |
Glottolog | lega1253 |
D.25,251 [2] | |
ELP | Kanu |
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Variant spellings of 'Lega' are Rega, Leka, Ileka, Kilega, Kirega. Shabunda is also known as Igonzabale, and Mwenga as Shile or Ishile. Gengele is reported to be a Shabunda-based creole.
According to Ethnologue, Bembe is part of the same dialect continuum. Nyindu is a dialect of Shi that has been heavily influenced by Lega.