Introduction

 
This dictionary is for the Tikar-speaking people of west-central Cameroon. The ISO 639-3 language code for the language is tik. The local population is about 25,000, based on the actual population of the subdivisions where the Tikar-speaking people are present, as of the official 2005 census (https://www.revolvy.com/page/Tikar-people).

The term 'Tikar' is a topic of much study. Not only is it used to refer to a specific ethnic group that lives on the Tikar plain, mainly in the Mayo-Banyo and Mbam-et-Kim departments; but also as a blanket term for a large number of ethnic groups in the Bamenda Grassfields whose royal families claim Tikar origin, but whose languages exhibit little, if any, linguistic similarity to the language spoken on the Tikar plain. This dictionary is intended for the former group.

The Tikar plain where this group is located is in the western part of central Cameroon, stretching on both sides of the Mbam River. Politically, the Tikar area is in three different departments: Mayo-Banyo, in the Adamawa Region; Mbam-et-Kim, in the Centre Region (Ngambe-Tikar Subdivision, located northwest of Yoko and north-east of Foumban); and finally, Noun, in the Western Region. Neighboring ethnic groups are: the Bamoun in the west-southwest; the Mambila, in the north; the Kwanja, in the northeast; and the Vute in the east. Tikar towns include Bankim, Magba, Nditam and Ngambe Tikar.

According to oral tradition, the Tikar people originally came from the Mbum region in the northwest part of Cameroon, near Ngaoundéré. Apparently, the migration was due to pressure from northern groups and also internal conflict. Articles written about the Tikar migration differ slightly; however, they all seem to agree that the Tikar who migrated from the Mbum area eventually settled in the Tumu territory, the current Tikar plain. The emigrants mingled with the local population, marrying Tumu women and thus the Tumu language eventually replaced the original language. [See, for example: Claude Hagège, Esquisse linguistique du tikar (Cameroun), 1969:18; P. Timmermans, “Les Tikar” in Africa-Tervuren, 15, 3, 1969:72; and E.M. Chilver and P. M. Kayberry, “The Tikar Problem: A Non-Problem” in Journal of African Languages. Vol. 10, Part 2, 1971:13]. At present, the Tikar of Bankim and its surroundings are called ɓwum/lan twùmwù "Tumu people" and their language is called lɛ' twùmwù "Tumu language".

According to the Ethnologue (2018), the linguistic classification of Tikar of Bankim is: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Tikar. The dialects listed there are: Twumwu (Tikar of Bankim, Tumu, Twùmwù), Tige (Tikar of Ngambe), Nditam, Kong, Mankim, Gambai, Bandobo (Ndob, Ndome), although Bandobo may be a separate language. Alternate names for the Tikar are Tikari, Tikali, Tikar-East, and Tingkala.

The speakers of Tikar value their language; all ages use Tikar in daily life, although some use French, depending on the situation. The literacy rate has been increasing; according to the Ethnologue, currently it is between 25-50%. The translation of the Tikar New Testament was completed in 1989.

The symbols used in the alphabet are those which were officially adopted for Cameroonian languages at the Réunion Nationale sur l’unification et l’harmonisation des alphabets des langues camerounaises that was held in Yaoundé Mar. 7-9, 1979.