Gambia
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Bandial
[bqj] Serrekunda Region. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Gusilay
English
[eng] 1,000 in Gambia (2004). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Jola-Fonyi
[dyo] Southwest. 67,000 in Gambia (2006). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Diola-Fogny, Jola, Jola-Fogny, Kujamataak, Kújoolaak Kati Fooñi, Yola Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi Comments: Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.
Karon
[krx] Western Division south coast, from Senegal border north to Brikama. 6,000 in Gambia (2007 SIL), increasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 60,000. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Karone, Karoninka Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Karon-Mlomp Comments: Most live among other ethnic groups in villages where they form a minority group, except Darsilami village on the border, where they form a large percentage. Gambian Karons maintain strong links with the ‘heartland’—Karon islands in south Senegal.
Mandinka
[mnk] West. 510,000 in Gambia (2006). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Mandé, Manding, Mandingo, Mandinque, Socé Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West Comments: Muslim.
Mandjak
[mfv] West, south of Gambia river. 21,600 in Gambia (2006). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kanyop, Mandjaque, Mandyak, Manjaca, Manjack, Manjaco, Manjacu, Manjiak, Ndyak Dialects: Bok (Babok), Cur (Churo), Likes-Utsia (Baraa, Kalkus), Lund, Manjaaku, Sarar, Teixeira Pinto, Tsaamo, Yu (Pecixe).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.
Maninkakan, Western
[mlq] East. 3,300 in Gambia (2006). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Malinka, Malinke, Northwestern Maninka Dialects: Jahanka.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West Comments: Muslim.
N’ko
[nqo] No known L1 speakers in Gambia. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Mixed language
Pulaar
[fuc] 295,000 in Gambia (2006). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Fulani, Fulbe Jeeri, Fulfulde-Pulaar, Peul, Peulh, Pulaar Fulfulde Dialects: Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda), Toucouleur (Haalpulaar, Halpulaar, Tukolor, Tukulor).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, Western Comments: Muslim, Christian.
Serahule
[snk] Southeast corner, mainly MacCarthy Island and Upper River divisions. 17 villages. 166,000 in Gambia (2006 World Factbook), increasing. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Sarakole, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Saraxuli, Soninke Dialects: Kinbakka, Kinxenna.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke Comments: The Soninke of The Gambia and those of southern Senegal, Kolda region, form one contiguous, cross border language community. Muslim.
Serer-Sine
[srr] Northwest. 31,900 in Gambia (2006). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Seereer, Serer, Serer-Sin, Serrer, Sine-Saloum Dialects: Dyegueme (Gyegem), Fadyut-Palmerin, Segum, Sine.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Serer Comments: Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.
Wolof, Gambian
[wof] North Bank Division, Banjul; Western Division, Kombo North of Saint Mary’s district, Serekunda and Bakau. 185,000 (2006). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Dialects: Senegal Wolof [wol] intelligible of Gambia Wolof but with significant enough differences to require adaptation of materials. Needs further investigation.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof Comments: Muslim.