Gourmanchéma

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A language of Burkina Faso

ISO 639-3
gux
Alternate Names
Goulmacema, Gourmantche, Gulimancema, Gulmancema, Gurma, Migulimancema
Autonym
Gourma
User Population

772,000 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,109,300.

Location

Centre-Est region: Koulpelogo province; Centre-Nord region: Namentenga province; Est region: Gnagna, Gourma, Komandjari, Kompienga and Tapoa provinces; Sahel region: Seno and Yagha provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

Northern Gourmanchema, Central Gourmanchema, Southern Gourmanchema. Central and eastern dialects are inherently intelligible; northern only with difficulty.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; genitives, articles before noun heads; numerals after; CV; 3 tones.

Language Use

Used by all. Also use French [fra]. Also use Mòoré [mos]. Also use Western Niger Fulfulde [fuh]. Also use Zarma [dje].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 58% (2006 census). Literacy rate in L2: 5%–10%. Central dialect is prestigious and used for writing. Also used in adult literacy classes (2021 SIL). Taught as subject in some primary schools through grades 3–5. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2005.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gourmanchéma
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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