Bamum | |
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Shüpamom | |
Region | Cameroon, Nigeria |
Native speakers
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420,000 (2005) |
Bamum syllabary | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
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Glottolog | bamu1253 |
Page from a manuscript in the Bamum script
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Bamum (Shüpamom [ʃŷpǎˑmə̀m] "Bamum language"), or in its French spelling Bamoun, is one of the Benue–Congo languages of Cameroon, with approximately 420,000 speakers. The language is well known for its original script developed by King Njoya and his palace circle around 1895. Cameroonian musician Claude Ndam is a native speaker of the language and uses it in his music.
Bamum has tone, long vowels and diphthongs, and coda consonants. The simple vowels are,
The consonants are,