Kol language (Cameroon)

Kol is a Niger–Congo language of the Bantu family, associated with the Bikélé ethnic group. It is spoken in the East Province of Cameroon, in the vicinity of Messaména. Alternate names for Kol language include Bikele-Bikay, Bikele-Bikeng, Bikélé, and Bekol.

Kol
Native to	Cameroon
Native speakers	(12,000 cited 1988)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantu (Zone A) Makaa–Njem + Kako (A.80–90) Ndzem–Bomwali Makaa Kol
Language codes
ISO 639-3	biw
Glottolog	kolc1235
Guthrie code	A.832[2]

Demographics

Kol, also known as Bekol or Bikele, is located in the northern part of Messamena, Haut-Nyong Department (Eastern Region), south of Meka. It is closely related to Meka and has 12,000 speakers (Ethnologue 2000).^[3]

References

1. Kol at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
3. Binam Bikoi, Charles, ed. (2012). Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) [Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon]. Atlas linguistique de l'Afrique centrale (ALAC) (in French). Vol. 1: Inventaire des langues. Yaoundé: CERDOTOLA. ISBN 9789956796069.

Further reading

• Henson, Bonnie Jean. 2007. The phonology and morphosyntax of Kol. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. xx, 592 p.