Langue et dialecte au sud du district d'Epena

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Statement of Responsibility: 
Leitch, Myles
Authors: 
Series Issue: 
2004-007
Issue Date: 
2004
Publisher: 
SIL International
Is Part Of Series: 
SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2004-007
Extent: 
56 pages
Abstract: 

Cette etude a été effectuée dans le district d'Epena, la region de la Likouala en République Populaire du Congo sous l'Autorisation du Ministère de la Recherche Scientifique et de l'Environnement #494 MRSE-CAB.

[Articles sans comité de lecture.]

This study attempts to characterize the linguistic situation along the Likouala-aux-Herbes River in the southern half of Epena District in the Likouala Region of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). We employ three methodologies: lexical comparisons (lexicostatistics), a sociolinguistic questionnaire, and recorded story testing. The data was collected during a linguistic survey in the language area in 1989. The survey demonstrates that the language called Dibole (spoken by the Babole people in 16 villages from Mahounda to Ebambe) has three main dialect areas; North, Central, and South, each with distinguishing features. The study documents the additional more limited variation within each dialect. The research also shows that the Dibole language is distinct from the language of Epena town proper and the villages east and north of Epena (the so-called Bomitaba language and its various dialects, including the variety spoken in Itanga, the first village south of Epena). There is no mutual intelligibility between Dibole and Bomitaba, but rather a limited amount of acquired bilingualism. The sociolinguistic questionnaire, lexicostatistics, and recorded story tests all confirm that the Babole people speak a distinct language from their closest neighbors, the Bomitaba. The study concludes that vernacular language use in this very isolated area remains very strong, despite limited use of Lingala and French in some domains.

[Article without peer review]

Publication Status: 
Published
Country: 
Congo (Brazzaville)
Content Language: 
Work Type: 
Nature of Work: 
Entry Number: 
8979