Soninke

A language of Mali

Aswanek, Aswanik, Azer, Ceddo, Cheddo, Gangara, Genger, Kwara, Maraka, Marka, Markaajo, Markakan, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Sarangkole, Sarangkolle, Saraxuli, Sebbe, Serahule, Serecole, Sooninke, Wakkore, Wankara

Autonym

Sooninkanxanne

User Population

1,280,000 in Mali (2009 census), increasing. Total users in all countries: 2,189,250.

Location

Kayes region: Kayes, Nioro, and Yélimané circles; Koulikoro region: Banamba, Kolokani, Koulikoro, and Nara circles; Ségou region: Baraouéli and Ségou circles. 6 principal towns, 163 villages.

Language Maps

Guinea and Guinea-Bissau

Central Mali: Enlarged area

Southern Mali

Western Mali

Mauritania

Senegal and The Gambia

Language Status

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

Classification

Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke

Dialects

Kinbakka, Kinxenna, Geriga (Giriga). Giriga dialect heavily influenced by Hassaniya Arabic [mey].

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam]. Also use French [fra]. Also use Hassaniyya [mey]. Also use Pulaar [fuc]. Used as L2 by Kagoro [xkg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. At Bamako university, there are now many more Soninke students who choose this language than before, and numbers are rising. The language is also used in adult education in the Soninke region, especially around Yelimané (2013 SIL). Taught as subject in some primary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 2001–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Soninke

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Different from Marka [rkm]. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Côte d’Ivoire

Language NameSoninke

User Population

185,000 in Côte d’Ivoire (Leclerc 2017c).

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

View other languages of Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Language NameSerahule

User Population

130,000 in Gambia (2018), increasing.

Location

Southeast corner, mainly MacCarthy Island and Upper River divisions. 17 villages.

Alternate Names

Sarakole, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Saraxuli, Soninke, Sooninkanxanne

Dialects

Kinxenna, Kinbakka.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use English [eng], as the language of education and government (Biel 2014). Also use Gambian Wolof [wof], as the language of commerce and media (Biel 2014). Also use Mandinka [mnk], as the secondary LWC for commerce and media (Biel 2014).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The Soninke of The Gambia and those of southern Senegal, Kolda region, form one contiguous, cross-border language community. Muslim.

View other languages of Gambia

Guinea

Language NameSarakolé

User Population

24,800 in Guinea (2017 census).

Location

Boké region: Boké and Koundara; Kankan region: Kankan; Kindia region: Conakry and Kindia; Labé region: Badougoula, Linsan, and Manda.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Many Soninke/Sarakolé of Guinea no longer speak Soninke (2018 P. Jorgensen). Adults only. Shifting to Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development

Agency: L’Union des Sarakolés de la Guinée pour le développement.

View other languages of Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Language NameSoninke

User Population

5,450 in Guinea-Bissau (2018).

Location

Gabu region: Pirada and Sonaco sectors; scattered in other major towns and cities.

Alternate Names

Maraka, Marka, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Language Status

5* (Developing).

Language Use

Most also use Guinea-Bissau Creole [pov], as the language of interethnic unity, communication, and commerce. Some also use Portuguese [por], as the language of education and communication with foreigners. Also use Mandinka [mnk]. Also use Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development

Beginning literacy classes.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Trace their origins to Gambia and Mali. Ethnic groups: Aser, Aswanik, Gadyaga, Marka, Markanka, Nono, Saracole, Sarawule, Serahuli, Tonbakai, Wakove. Muslim.

View other languages of Guinea-Bissau

Mauritania

Language NameSoninke

User Population

219,000 in Mauritania (2017), increasing.

Location

Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, and Guidimaka regions: Kaedi and Selibaby towns; 45 villages.

Alternate Names

Aswanek, Aswanik, Azer, Gangara, Genger, Maraka, Marka, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Dialects

Azer (Adjer, Aser), Kinxenna, Kinbakka.

Language Status

5 (Developing). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use French [fra], as the language of education, media and government. Most also use Hassaniyya [mey], as the language of commerce and interethnic communication. Many also use Standard Arabic [arb], as the language of government, media, and religion. Also use Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 20% in French [fra], 10% in Arabic [arb]. Used as a language of instruction in a few experimental schools (2010 J. Leclerc).

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Mauritania

Senegal

Language NameSoninke

User Population

340,000 in Senegal (2017), increasing.

Location

Kolda region: north of Velingara; Matam region: Kanel district; Tambacounda region: Koudi area along Senegal river south bank (Kinxenna dialect). 42 villages, Bakel, Moudéri, Ouaoundé, and Yaféra are principal towns.

Alternate Names

Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Sarangkolle, Saraxuli, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Dialects

Kinxenna.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2001, Constitution, Article 1).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Wolof [wol], as the language of commerce and interethnic communication (Sarr and Thiaw 2012). Some also use French [fra], as the language of education and government (Diouf et al 2017). Also use Bamanankan [bam]. Also use Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 1%–42%.

Other Comments

Kolda region Soninke trace their origins back to the eastern dialect area of Mali (Kinbakka); northeastern Senegal group is part of the western Mali group (Kinxenna). Thus, significant differences exist between dialects of the 2 geographical groups in Senegal. Extensive interaction between Soninke of The Gambia and those of southern Senegal, Kolda region. Kolda region speakers are geographically isolated from those in northeastern Senegal. Muslim.

View other languages of Senegal

United States

Language NameSoninke

User Population

5,000 in United States (2011 C. Clayman).

Location

Ohio: Cincinnati, Columbus; New York: New York City; Pennsylvania: Philadelphia.

Alternate Names

Soninkanxanne

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United States

Soninke

Primary tabs

A language of Mali

Also spoken in:

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites