Bandial

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Senegal

Alternate Names
Banjaal, Banjal, Eegima, Eegimaa, Endungo, Jóola Banjal
Autonym
Gubanjalay, Gújjolaay Eegimaa
User Population

15,700 in Senegal (2017).

Location

Ziguinchor region: Bignona department, Affiniam, Badiate-Grand, Bandial, Batinier, Brin, Elubalir, Enampor, Essil, Etama, Kamobeul, and Seleky villages on a peninsula bounded by the Casamance river north, the Komobeul Bôlon river west, Ziguinchor-Oussouye road south, and Brin-Nyassia road east. The only village north of the Casamance River is Affiniam.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Dialects

Affiniam, Bandial, Elun (Hulon, Kujireray, Kuluunaay). Lexical similarity: 74% with Bandial and Affiniam dialects, 76% with Bandial and Elun.

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; noun classes; verb affixes mark person and number of subject and object; aspect; 17 consonants (all with geminate counterparts) and 10 vowels (5 with ATR, 5 without ATR); non-tonal; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.

Language Use

Home, village. Some young people, all adults. Bandial is still transmitted to children in villages, but its transmission to new generations outside the traditional rural area has fallen drastically (Sagna 2008). Mixed attitudes. Some also use Jola-Fonyi [dyo]. Some also use Jola-Kasa [csk]. Also use French [fra], with many youth shifting (Sagna 2008). Also use Guinea-Bissau Creole [pov]. Also use Wolof [wol], with many youth shifting (Sagna 2008).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Literacy rate in L2: 20% in French [fra]. Literacy mostly directed to adults. Some for primary and secondary schools. Literature. Radio. Grammar. NT: 2014.

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.