Soninke

A language of Mali

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Soninke

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A language of Mali

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