Page Type: languageSamo, Southern | Ethnologue

SBD ISO 639-3

Samo, Southern

San Autonym

A language of Burkina Faso

ISO 639
sbd
Alternate Names
Sa, Samo, San Maka, Sane
Autonym
San
Population
85,000 (1998). All Samo (San) languages: 233,000 (2009 UNSD).
Location:
Boucle du Mouhoun region: mainly Nayala province, Nouna and Solenzo areas; Sourou province; Centre-Ouest region: Sanguie province; Nord region: Passore province; Bobo-Dioulasso, Dedougou, Koudougou, and Ouagadougou cities. Gassan, Gossina, Kougny, Toma, Yaba, and Ye departments (Toma dialect).
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Eastern, Samo
Dialects
Toma (Makaa, Nyaana). Intelligibility low across Samo varieties.
Language Use
Home, religion, commerce. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use French [fra], especially users of the Toma dialect. Also use Jula [dyu], especially youth and those who do not speak the Toma dialect. Also use Mòoré [mos]. Also use Western Niger Fulfulde [fuh].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Higher among Toma. Motivation to read French and Toma Samo is high. A literacy center in Toma teaches Toma. Grammar. Bible: 2014.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Samo, Southern
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
The Rimaïbé are Samo who were former Fula slaves, now speak Fulfulde [fuh] as L2, and live in Kawara, Kassan, Zoumou, and Teri in the Tougan area. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Boucle du Mouhoun region: mainly Nayala province, Nouna and Solenzo areas; Sourou province; Centre-Ouest region: Sanguie province; Nord region: Passore province; Bobo-Dioulasso, Dedougou, Koudougou, and Ouagadougou cities. Gassan, Gossina, Kougny, Toma, Yaba, and Ye departments (Toma dialect).