Page Type: languageBandial | Ethnologue

BQJ ISO 639-3

Bandial

Gubanjalay, Gújjolaay Eegimaa Autonym

A language of Senegal

ISO 639
bqj
Alternate Names
Banjaal, Banjal, Eegima, Eegimaa, Endungo, Jóola Banjal
Autonym
Gubanjalay, Gújjolaay Eegimaa
Population
15,700 in Senegal (2017).
Location:
Ziguinchor region: Bignona department, Affiniam, Badiate-Grand, Bandial, Batinier, Brin, Elubalir, Enampor, Essil, Etama, Kamobeul, and Seleky villages on a peninsula bounded by the Casamance river north, the Komobeul Bôlon river west, Ziguinchor-Oussouye road south, and Brin-Nyassia road east. The only village north of the Casamance River is Affiniam.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Gusilay
Dialects
Affiniam, Bandial, Elun (Hulon, Kujireray, Kuluunaay). Lexical similarity: 74% with Bandial and Affiniam dialects, 76% with Bandial and Elun.
Typology
SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; noun classes; verb affixes mark person and number of subject and object; aspect; 17 consonants (all with geminate counterparts) and 10 vowels (5 with ATR, 5 without ATR); non-tonal; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.
Language Use
Home, village. Some young people, all adults. Bandial is still transmitted to children in villages, but its transmission to new generations outside the traditional rural area has fallen drastically (Sagna 2008). Mixed attitudes. Some also use Jola-Fonyi [dyo]. Some also use Jola-Kasa [csk]. Also use French [fra], with many youth shifting (Sagna 2008). Also use Guinea-Bissau Creole [pov]. Also use Wolof [wol], with many youth shifting (Sagna 2008).
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Literacy rate in L2: 20% in French [fra]. Literacy mostly directed to adults. Some for primary and secondary schools. Literature. Radio. Grammar. NT: 2014.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bandial
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Ziguinchor region: Bignona department, Affiniam, Badiate-Grand, Bandial, Batinier, Brin, Elubalir, Enampor, Essil, Etama, Kamobeul, and Seleky villages on a peninsula bounded by the Casamance river north, the Komobeul Bôlon river west, Ziguinchor-Oussouye road south, and Brin-Nyassia road east. The only village north of the Casamance River is Affiniam.