Maninka, Konyanka

A language of Guinea

Koniaka, Konya, Konyakakan, Konyanka, Maninya

559,000 in Guinea (2017 census).

Kankan and Nzérékoré regions: national reserve; Beyle, Kankan, Kerouane, Lola, and Macenta prefectures; Balanfe, Boukorodou, Diatela, Dyibarou, Kabadian Mallerou, and Ouanino villages along Beyla-Sinko road and north of Sinko (Gbasando dialect); Lola (Karagba dialect); Sokourala (Woroduu dialect).

Language Maps

Guinea and Guinea-Bissau

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding

Dialects

Konya, Gbeeka, Gbasando, Woroduu, Karagba. Gbasando speakers are believed to be Fulbe by origin. Woroduu is different from Worodougou [jud] in Côte d’Ivoire, reportedly similar to Wojenaka [jod]. Lexical similarity: 95% with Manya [mzj], over 90% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk]. A member of macrolanguage Mandingo [man].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; tone.

Language Use

All also use Kono [knu]. Many also use Eastern Maninkakan [emk], especially in larger market towns because of travel.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Maninka, Konyanka

Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Speakers of the eastern dialects often refer to themselves as Jula. Muslim.