WOLOF: a language of Senegal

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: WOL

ISO 639-1: wo

ISO 639-2: wol

Population	3,170,200 in Senegal (1998). Population total all countries 3,215,000 or more first language speakers (1998); 7,000,000 including second language speakers (1999 WA).
Region	Western and central, left bank of Senegal River to Cape Vert. May also be in Mali. Also spoken in France, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania.
Alternate names	OUOLOF, YALLOF, WALAF, VOLOF, WARO-WARO
Dialects	BAOL, CAYOR, DYOLOF (DJOLOF, JOLOF), LEBOU (LEBU), JANDER.
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof.
Comments	Different from Wolof of Gambia. Bilingualism in French, Arabic. The main African language of Senegal. Predominantly urban. 'Wolof' is their name for themselves. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 30%. Radio programs. Muslim. NT 1988.

Also spoken in:

Mauritania

Language name	WOLOF
Population	10,000 in Mauritania (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	OUOLOF, YALLOF, WALAF, VOLOF
Dialects	BAOL, CAYOR, DYOLOF (DJOLOF, JOLOF), LEBOU, NDYANGER.
Comments	Different from Wolof of Gambia. Language of wider communication. Muslim. NT 1988. See main entry under Senegal.