Jahanka

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A language of Guinea

ISO 639-3
jad
Alternate Names
Diakanka, Diakhanke, Diakkanke, Dyakanke, Jahanque, Jahonque, Jaxanka
User Population

137,000 in Guinea (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 137,500.

Location

Boké region: central Gaoual prefecture, more than 60 villages on Tamine river upper reaches between Boké and Sangea towns.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding
Dialects

Jahanka in Gambia may be same language, or a dialect of Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Jahanka in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau is a dialect of Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Lexical similarity: 75% with Mandinka [mnk].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Jahanka
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab].

Other Comments

Reportedly came from Mali in 18th century and trace their origins to Soninke [snk], but now speak a separate language. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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