Somyev language

Somyev
Kila
Native toNigeria, Cameroon
Native speakers
15 (2000)[1]
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3kgt
Glottologsomy1238
ELPSomyev

Somyev (Somyewe), also known as Kila ("blacksmith" in Fulfulde), is a nearly extinct Mambiloid language of two villages, one in Nigeria and one in Cameroon, that is spoken by a caste of blacksmiths that live among the Mambila. Although the language is still used for daily communication, the youngest generation of speakers were born in the 1950s. Transmission of the language ceased when the profession of blacksmithing lost its social status, partly due to imports of foreign tools.[2]

  1. ^ Somyev at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Connell, B. (1997). Moribund languages of the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. In M. Brezinger (ed.), Endangered Languages in Africa. Cologne, Germany: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag. Pp 197–213.