Molengue language
Encyclopedia
The Lengue language, also called Molengue, Balengue, Molendji, is a Bantu language
of southern Equatorial Guinea
, spoken by the Lengue people
between Bata
and the Gabon
border near the coast. The speakers have come under increasing Fang influence. The Ethnologue
describes it as a member of the B subgroup of Northwest Bantu, while Echegaray is more specific, saying that it is linguistically a member of the Sheke group (B21 of Guthrie
's Bantu subclassification):
Echegaray lists their main settlements as being located south of Bata between Punta Nguba and the Benito River
, as well as three before the Ndote River, and a few further south or inland.
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
of southern Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
, spoken by the Lengue people
Lengue people
Lengue people, or Balengue, are an African ethnic group, members of the Bantu group, who are indigenous to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Their indigenous language is Lengue. Today Bengas inhabit the coast region of the country's mainland, between Bata and the Gabonese border...
between Bata
Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Bata is a port city in the Litoral Province of Equatorial Guinea. With a 2005 estimated population of 173,046, it is the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Río Muni....
and the Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
border near the coast. The speakers have come under increasing Fang influence. The Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
describes it as a member of the B subgroup of Northwest Bantu, while Echegaray is more specific, saying that it is linguistically a member of the Sheke group (B21 of Guthrie
Malcolm Guthrie
Malcolm Guthrie , professor of Bantu languages, is known primarily for his classification of Bantu languages...
's Bantu subclassification):
- "The Balengues - linguistically at least - are related to the Sheke group in general, and especially to Itemus and Nvikos." (p. 51)
Echegaray lists their main settlements as being located south of Bata between Punta Nguba and the Benito River
Benito River
The Benito is a river in Equatorial Guinea. It is known locally as the Mbini River. It divides the country roughly along the middle, running east to west. At the mouth to the Atlantic Ocean lies the town of Mbini, as well as large mangrove stands that extend 20 km inland. Only this 20km portion...
, as well as three before the Ndote River, and a few further south or inland.