Ngwe | |
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Native to | Cameroon |
Native speakers
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73,000 (2001) |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
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Glottolog | ngwe1238 |
Ngwe (Ŋwe, Nweh) is a Niger–Congo language that is spoken in Cameroon. As of 2001, Ngwe had 73,200 speakers, which was an increase from the numbers of previous censuses. It is part of the Bamileke dialect continuum, and its closest relatives are Yemba and Ngiemboon. It has at least thirteen vowels, /i y e ɛ æ ɐ ɑ ɔ o u ɯ ɤ ʌ/. /ɤ ʌ/ are centralized. /y/ sounds somewhat like [ø] or [œ] and has a tongue position similar to that of /ɑ/, but with the jaw raised and the lips very close together.