SES ISO 639-3
Songhay, Koyraboro Senni
A language of Mali
- ISO 639
- ses
- Alternate Names
- East Songhay, Gao Songhay, Koyra Senni, Koyra Senni Songhay, Songai, Songay Senni, Songhai, Songhay, Songoi, Songoy, Sonrai, Sonrhai
- Population
- 430,000 (2007 SIL), increasing. 300,000 monolinguals (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 850,000.
- Location:
- Gao region: Gao town area along Niger river; Tombouctou region: Niafunké to Niger border.
- Language Status
- 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).
- Classification
- Nilo-Saharan, Songhai, Southern
- Dialects
- Gao, Fulan Kirya. Intelligibility good among all dialects on Niger River. Fulan Kirya dialect has more limited intelligibility through heavy lexical borrowing from Fulfulde [ffm] and Humburi Senni Songhay [hmb]. The Gao dialect is dominant in all respects. Lexical similarity: 77% with Gao and Timbuktu dialects; 50% with Tadaksahak [dsq].
- Typology
- SOV; nontonal.
- Language Use
- Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam]. Also use French [fra]. Also use Tamasheq [taq]. Bilingualism is not extensive (1999 J. Heath).
- Language Development
- Actively promoted by the government through adult literacy classes and as the language of instruction at the primary level in some experimental schools. Some French literacy. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2014.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Songhay, Koyraboro Senni
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn].
- Other Comments
- Muslim, traditional religion.
Also Spoken in
Map
Location: Gao region: Gao town area along Niger river; Tombouctou region: Niafunké to Niger border.
Size and Vitality
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