Gambia

Summary

Official Name: Republic of The Gambia
Population: 2,413,000
Principal Languages: English
Literacy Rate: 56% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: ACHPR (1987), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Bendor-Samuel and Hartell 1989, Vanderaa 1991
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Gambia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 7 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 3 are developing, 4 are vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 6 unestablished languages.

Languages

Bambara bam: Users: 20,500 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Northeastern Manding, Bamana
English eng: Widespread. Users: 67,700 in Gambia, all users. L1 users: 2,000 in Gambia (Biel 2014). L2 users: 65,700 (2019). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Banjul and Brikama LGAs; urban areas. Users: 512,000 in Gambia (Marcoux et al 2022), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Guinea-Bissau Creole pov: Users: 21,300 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Jola-Fonyi dyo: West Coast division: southwest. Users: 117,000 in Gambia (2018). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Diola-Fogny, Jola, Jola-Fogny, Jóola fóoñi, Kujamataak, Kújoolaak Kati Fooñi, Yola Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi
Karon krx: West Coast division: south coast, from Senegal border north to Brikama. Users: 10,800 in Gambia (2016), increasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 60,000. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kaloon, Karone, Karoninka, Kulonay Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Karon-Mlomp
Krio kri: Banjul region. Users: 16,200 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Krio
Mandinka mnk: Widespread. Users: 879,000 in Gambia (2014). Status: 3 (Wider communication). The secondary LWC of commerce and the media, after Wolof [wof] (Biel 2014). Alternate Names: Manding, Mandingo, Mandinque, Mandé, Socé Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West
Mandjak mfv: West Coast division: south of Gambia river. Users: 37,700 in Gambia (2018). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kanyop, Mandjaque, Mandyak, Manjaca, Manjack, Manjaco, Manjacu, Manjago, Manjiak, Manjáku, Ndyak Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
Maninkakan, Western mlq: Upper River division. Users: 4,260 in Gambia (2016). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Malinka, Malinke, Northwestern Maninka Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West
Mankanya knf: Users: 1,960 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
Mansoanka msw: Users: 2,130 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Sua
N’ko nqo: Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Gambia. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Mixed language
Pulaar fuc: Central River, Lower River, North Bank, and Upper River divisions. Users: 377,000 in Gambia (2018). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Fulani, Fulbe Jeeri, Fulfulde-Pulaar, Peul, Peulh, Pulaar Fulfulde Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, Western
Serahule snk: Southeast corner, mainly MacCarthy Island and Upper River divisions. 17 villages. Users: 130,000 in Gambia (2018), increasing. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Sarakole, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Saraxuli, Soninke, Sooninkanxanne Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke
Serer-Sine srr: North Bank division: northwest. Users: 52,300 in Gambia (2018). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Seereer, Serer, Serer-Sin, Serrer, Sine-Saloum Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Serer
Wolof, Gambian wof: North Bank division: Kombo north of Saint Mary’s district, Serekunda and Bakau, Banjul; Central River and Upper River divisions. Users: 314,000 (2018). Status: 3 (Wider communication). The Wolof people migrated to Gambia from central and eastern Africa. Wolof became widespread around the 15th century when the first Europeans traders came. Used in large-scale slave trade, religion, agriculture, and commerce. Wolof [wol] is an official language in Senegal and widely spoken in several other west African countries. Autonym: Wolof Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof
Xasonga kao: Users: 2,130 in Gambia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Khassonké Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national language. 67,700 in Gambia, all users. L1 users: 2,000 in Gambia (Biel 2014). L2 users: 65,700 (2019).

3 (Wider communication)

Mandinka

[mnk] 3 (Wider communication). The secondary LWC of commerce and the media, after Wolof [wof] (Biel 2014). 879,000 in Gambia (2014).

Wolof, Gambian

[wof] 3 (Wider communication). The Wolof people migrated to Gambia from central and eastern Africa. Wolof became widespread around the 15th century when the first Europeans traders came. Used in large-scale slave trade, religion, agriculture, and commerce. Wolof [wol] is an official language in Senegal and widely spoken in several other west African countries. 314,000 (2018).

5 (Dispersed)

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 512,000 in Gambia (Marcoux et al 2022), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Pulaar

[fuc] 5 (Developing). 377,000 in Gambia (2018).

Serahule

[snk] 5 (Developing). 130,000 in Gambia (2018), increasing.

6a (Vigorous)

Jola-Fonyi

[dyo] 6a (Vigorous). 117,000 in Gambia (2018).

Karon

[krx] 6a (Vigorous). 10,800 in Gambia (2016), increasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 60,000.

Mandjak

[mfv] 6a (Vigorous). 37,700 in Gambia (2018).

Serer-Sine

[srr] 6a (Vigorous). 52,300 in Gambia (2018).

6b (Threatened)

Maninkakan, Western

[mlq] 6b* (Threatened). 4,260 in Gambia (2016).

Unestablished

Bambara

[bam] Unestablished. 20,500 in Gambia (2016).

Guinea-Bissau Creole

[pov] Unestablished. 21,300 in Gambia (2016).

Krio

[kri] Unestablished. 16,200 in Gambia (2016).

Mankanya

[knf] Unestablished. 1,960 in Gambia (2016).

Mansoanka

[msw] Unestablished. 2,130 in Gambia (2016).

Xasonga

[kao] Unestablished. 2,130 in Gambia (2016).

Maps

Senegal and The Gambia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Gambia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Gambia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Gambia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Gambia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Gambia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Gambia ($149.95, 23 page PDF)

Gambia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Senegal and The Gambia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action