Songhay, Koyraboro Senni

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A language of Mali

ISO 639-3
ses
Alternate Names
East Songhay, Gao Songhay, Koyra Senni, Koyra Senni Songhay, Songai, Songay Senni, Songhai, Songhay, Songoi, Songoy, Sonrai, Sonrhai
User Population

430,000 (2007 SIL), increasing. 300,000 monolinguals (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 850,000.

Location

Gao region: Gao town area along Niger river; Tombouctou region: Niafunké to Niger border.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Songhai, Southern
Dialects

Gao, Fulan Kirya. Intelligibility good among all dialects on Niger River. Fulan Kirya dialect has more limited intelligibility through heavy lexical borrowing from Fulfulde [ffm] and Humburi Senni Songhay [hmb]. The Gao dialect is dominant in all respects. Lexical similarity: 77% with Gao and Timbuktu dialects; 50% with Tadaksahak [dsq].

Typology

SOV; nontonal.

Language Use

Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam]. Also use French [fra]. Also use Tamasheq [taq]. Bilingualism is not extensive (1999 J. Heath).

Language Development

Actively promoted by the government through adult literacy classes and as the language of instruction at the primary level in some experimental schools. Some French literacy. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Songhay, Koyraboro Senni
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim, traditional religion.