Page Type: languageSiamou | Ethnologue

SIF ISO 639-3

Siamou

A language of Burkina Faso

ISO 639
sif
Alternate Names
Seme, Siemu, Siémou, Syémou, Sému
Population
17,400 in Burkina Faso (2009 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 52,100.
Location:
Hauts-Bassins region: Houet province, Toussiana department; Kenedougou province: Orodara is center, Bandougou, Didéri, Diéri, Diéridéni, Diossogou, Kotoudéni, Lidara, and Tin villages.
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kru, Seme
Dialects
Bandougou. Minor dialect differences between villages and within Orodara. The Bandougou dialect is considered different, but intelligibility among dialects seems adequate. No closely related languages.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, personal pronouns before noun heads; adjectives, numerals after noun heads; question word final for yes-no questions; content question words appear in normal position: e.g., S-O-adverbial-O of prep; word order distinguishes subjects and objects; tonal (3 phonemic tones: High, Mid, Low and downstep; 7 different tone categories for monosyllabic words).
Language Use
Vigorous. Also use French [fra]. Also use Jula [dyu].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: A few in Jula [dyu], some in French [fra]. Grammar. Bible portions: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Siamou
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Previously classified as Mande. Their tradition says they came from the south. Traditional religion, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Siamou
User Population
34,700 in Mali (2018).
Location
Bamako capital district.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Mali

Map

Location: Hauts-Bassins region: Houet province, Toussiana department; Kenedougou province: Orodara is center, Bandougou, Didéri, Diéri, Diéridéni, Diossogou, Kotoudéni, Lidara, and Tin villages.