Introduction

Baca, pronounced [batʃa], also known as "Nubaca" or "Bongo" is spoken only in the village of Bongo by an estimated 800 people (Boone 1992a: 1; Lewis 2009). The chief of Bongo village, His Excellency Ntsomo Npong Pierre, however, says that the population of Bongo is closer to 4,500, most of whom are Baca speakers (p.c. February 2009).

The language is identified as having three dialects:

Baca, spoken in the quarters of Ganok, Nkos, Buyatolo, Buyabikɛl, Buyabatug and Buyamboy

Kélendé, spoken in the quarters of Kélendé Mbat and Kélendé Mɔma

Nibieg, spoken in the quarter of the same name. This study is based on personal research of the main dialect spoken in Ganok quarter.

Baca is referred to in only a few works, notably:

Scruggs. A linguistic survey of the Bokito region (including approximately 180 terms). 1982.

Paulian. An article on the Yambassa languages (including more than 100 terms). 1986. p. 243-279.

Boone. A survey of Baca (including approximately 100 terms). 1992a.

In addition to these surveys, two Université de Yaoundé I MA theses in linguistics have been produced:

Abessolo, Eto. 1990.

Sebineni. (including 250 terms in the annex). 2008.

The Baca acknowledge a relationship with the Bati in the Sanaga‑Maritime, who, according to his Excellency Ntsomo Npong Pierre, acted as a buffer between the Baca and the Basaa further south.