ABSTRACT
This Bantu language complex, belonging to the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family, is spoken in the Republic of the Congo and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by at least 2 million people as a native language, and perhaps a further 8 million as a second language. In addition, it is used by many more than that number as a lingua franca. The Lingala Bible translation is actually in the dialect form known as Bangala, which was typically used in intercourse between Europeans and the native Bantu population. The form known as Lingala proper, used in the Middle Congo area, especially in the larger towns, has official status as the language of administration. A third form, Mangala, functions mainly as a colloquial. Lingala has been written (in Roman script) since the early twentieth century, mainly for newspapers and periodicals.
