Ipulo (also known as Assumbo, Asumbo, or Badzumbo) is a Southern Bantoid language belonging to the Central Tivoid group. It is spoken by approximately 2,500 people (as of 1990) in Cameroon, primarily in the Akwaya District in the north of Manyu Department in the Southwest Region, and in the Menchum Department in the Northwest Region.
Classification
Ipulo belongs to the Niger–Congo language family, within the Atlantic–Congo, Benue–Congo, Southern Bantoid, and Tivoid branches. Its ISO 639-3 code is ass, and its Glottolog code is ipul1238.
Dialects
The language has two rather divergent dialects: Olulu and Tinta (also referred to as Etongo).
Speakers and Status
With an estimated 2,500 speakers (1990), Ipulo is considered a stable indigenous language. It is used as a first language by all members of the ethnic community and serves as the primary medium of communication within the community. It is not known to be taught in schools. Speakers of Ipulo call themselves Wopulo.
Writing System
Ipulo is written using the Latin alphabet. A revised orthography guide was published by SIL Global (authored by Anna Tuinstra), which includes an alphabet chart and sample texts.
Sample Text (Ipulo)
Vēkan vekwolunu īhū ŋgò: kahà, untūfū, uhúŋg. Ēkan yémo və̄kavil kahà yi ihú. Kikegh okul ki ōhwòŋg. Kikelow āyàv ēnda. Kēswoh ōswoh ōswoh kegh ki ōhwòŋg. Kekpa okul. Kētiŋ kahà oyu. Kēla wi ētī. Kegh nowh uŋgwò. Kētiŋ ēsayī īhū ŋgò. Hu vāmbūtū ni kikipu età ni kekwol ētī yi kahà ki āwo. Ihú keva keham. Kētiŋ.
Translation (English)
We use these things to catch fish: a long net, a casting net and a rimmed net. One of these things is called a long fish net. Before using the long net we put poison into the river. To make the poison we pick a certain leaf. We pound this leaf into a paste with a stone and put the paste into the river. We push the poison down with a stick. Then we bend a stick and attach it to the long net. We men do this, holding the net by the stick with our hands. When the fish come we position the net underneath them. Then we take up the fish in the net.
References
- Ipulo at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- Omniglot – Ipulo language
- Revised Ipulo Orthography Guide, by Anna Tuinstra (SIL Global)
