Dagbani

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3
dag
Alternate Names
Dagbamba, Dagbane, Dagomba
Autonym
Dagbanli
User Population

1,160,000 (2013 UNSD), increasing.

Location

Northern region: northeast of Tamale, as far as Yendi.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (1951, Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Southeast
Dialects

Nanuni (Nanumba). Lexical similarity: 95% with Mampruli [maw], 90% with Farefare [gur], 89% with Kusaal [kus].

Typology

SVO; 21 consonants and 11 vowels (6 short and 5 long).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 3%. Literacy rate in L2: 2%. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 3 and as subject thereafter. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2007.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dagbani
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1968.

Other Comments

Muslim, traditional religion.