Wolof | Ethnologue

A language of Senegal

ISO 639: wol
Alternate Names: Ouolof, Volof, Walaf, Waro-Waro, Yallof
Autonym: Wolof
Population: 12,208,000 in Senegal, all users. L1 users: 5,868,000 in Senegal (2013 census). L2 users: 6,340,000 (2017). Ethnic population: 6,900,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 12,266,290 (as L1: 5,926,290; as L2: 6,340,000).
Location:: Widespread.
Language Status: 3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2001, Constitution, Article 1). Wolof has become an LWC through commerce and trade and is the lingua france in much of the country. The phenomenon of ‘wolofization’ has meant that people from many ethnic groups have adopted Wolof as their L1; most of the Senegalese population can speak and understand Wolof (2015 J. Leclerc).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof
Dialects: Baol, Cayor, Dyolof (Djolof, Jolof), Lebou (Lebu), Jander, Urban Wolof (Dakar-Wolof). Urban Wolof speakers have some difficulty understanding the Wolof spoken in rural areas, but the reverse does not pose the same difficulty. Wolof [wol] is different from Gambian Wolof [wof].
Typology: SVO; prepositions; no noun classes, but class particles; definite article; passives; tense and aspect; 25 consonant and 16 vowel phonemes; non-tonal.
Language Use: Youth are shifting to Urban Wolof. All domains. Many also use French [fra], as the language of education and government (Diouf et al 2017). Used as L2 by Badyara [pbp], Bainouk-Gunyaamolo [bcz], Bainouk-Samik [bcb], Balanta-Ganja [bjt], Bambara [bam], Bandial [bqj], Bayot [bda], Casamance Creole [pov], Ejamat [eja], Gusilay [gsl], Hassaniyya [mey], Jalunga [yal], Jola-Fonyi [dyo], Jola-Kasa [csk], Kabuverdianu [kea], Karon [krx], Kerak [hhr], Krio [kri], Kuwaataay [cwt], Laalaa [cae], Mandinka [mnk], Mandjak [mfv], Mankanya [knf], Ménik [tnr], Mlomp [mlo], Ndut [ndv], Noon [snf], Oniyan [bsc], Paloor [fap], Pulaar [fuc], Pular [fuf], Saafi-Saafi [sav], Serer-Sine [srr], Soninke [snk], Wamey [cou], Western Maninkakan [mlq], Xasonga [kao], Zenaga [zen].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 2%. Taught in primary schools. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1988–2010.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Wolof
Writing: Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
Other Comments: Muslim.