Page Type: languageJola-Fonyi | Ethnologue

DYO ISO 639-3

Jola-Fonyi

Jóola fóoñi Autonym

A language of Senegal

ISO 639
dyo
Alternate Names
Diola, Diola-Fogny, Dyola, Jola, Jola-Fogny, Joola-Fogny, Jóola, Kujamataak, Kújoolaak kati Kúfooñaak, Kújoolaay, Yola
Autonym
Jóola fóoñi
Population
340,000 in Senegal. 243,000 Fonyi, 96,700 Buluf. 34,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 457,000.
Location:
Sédhiou region: Casamance river area north of Senegal-Gambia border; Ziguinchor region: Bignona area and east and southeast of Ziguinchor town.
Language Status
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2001, Constitution, Article 1).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi
Dialects
Buluf, Kombo, Kalounaye, Narang. Jola-Fonyi is the largest and most widely understood Jola variety. Lexical similarity: 68% with Jola-Kasa [csk].
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains, oral and written use in administration, informal use in education. Oral use in commerce, traditional religion, some use in other religious services. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use French [fra], as the language of education and government (Diouf et al 2017). Many also use Wolof [wol], as the language of commerce and interethnic communication (Sarr and Thiaw 2012). Also use Guinea-Bissau Creole [pov]. Also use Mandinka [mnk]. Used as L2 by Bandial [bqj], Bayot [bda], Gusilay [gsl], Karon [krx], Kuwaataay [cwt], Mankanya [knf], Mlomp [mlo], Pulaar [fuc].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Experimental pilot classes since 2002. Buluf dialect seems to have many lexical items different from Fonyi, but Buluf speakers are willing to learn to read Fonyi. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Jola-Fonyi
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Distinct from Jula [dyu] (Dioula, Dyoula, Dyula) of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Jola-Fonyi
User Population
117,000 in Gambia (2018).
Location
West Coast division: southwest.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.
View other languages of Gambia

Map

Location: Sédhiou region: Casamance river area north of Senegal-Gambia border; Ziguinchor region: Bignona area and east and southeast of Ziguinchor town.