Guinea
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Badyara
[pbp] Boké Region, Koundara prefecture. Also in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal. 6,300 in Guinea (1998 NTM). Population total all countries: 12,730. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Badara, Badian, Badjara, Badyaranke, Bigola, Gola, Pajade, Pajadinka Dialects: Lexical similarity: 52% with Biafada [bif], the most similar language.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda Comments: Maintain cultural autonomy. Muslim.
Baga Binari
Baga Kaloum
[bqf] No remaining speakers. Status: 10 (Extinct). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Baga Koga
[bgo] Coast between Pongo and Konkouré rivers, to Île de Kito. Ethnic population: 5,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Baka, Koba, Koga Dialects: Similar to Landoma [ldm] and Themne [tem].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Baga Manduri
[bmd] Nunez river delta islands, Kanfarande subprefecture, Dobale area. 4,000. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Baka, Maduri, Mandari, Mandore, Mandori, Manduri Dialects: Similar to Landoma [ldm] and Themne [tem].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Baga Mboteni
Baga Sitemu
[bsp] Boké Region, Boffa prefecture, Nunez river south bank. 4,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Baka, Rio Pongo Baga, Sitemuú, Stem Baga, Tchitem Dialects: Similar to Landoma [ldm] and Themne [tem].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Baga Sobané
[bsv] Between Kapatchez and Pongo rivers. No remaining speakers. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Baga Kakissa, Baka, Sobané Dialects: Similar to Landoma [ldm] and Themne [tem].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Bassari
[bsc] 8,600 in Guinea (Vanderaa 1991). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Ayan, Basari, Biyan, Oneyan, Onian, Tenda Basari, Wo Dialects: Southern Bassari.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda Comments: Matrilineal. Traditional religion, Muslim.
Bullom So
[buy] Along the coast to Sierra Leone border. Few in Guinea (2001). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Bolom, Bulem, Bullin, Bullun, Mandenyi, Mandingi, Mmani, Northern Bullom Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Bullom, Northern
Dan
[dnj] Nzérékoré Region, Lola prefecture, east of Nzoo on Côte d’Ivoire border, Kogota village. 800 in Guinea (2001 G. Pruett). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Da, Gio, Gio-Dan, Gyo, Yacouba, Yakuba Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan
French
[fra] Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 1). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Guinean Sign Language
Jahanka
[jad] Boké Region, Gabu and Bafata prefectures, more than 60 villages. Also in Guinea-Bissau, Mali. 29,000 in Guinea (1999 G. Gumbs). Population total all countries: 29,500. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Diakhanke, Diakkanke, Dyakanke, Jahanque, Jahonque, Jaxanka Dialects: Jahanka in Gambia may be same language, or a dialect of Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Jahanka in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau is a dialect of Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Lexical similarity: 75% with Mandinka [mnk].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding Comments: Reportedly came from Mali in 18th century and trace their origins to Soninke [snk], but now speak a separate language. Muslim.
Kakabe
[kke] Mamou Region, east of Timbo, Sokotoro, Wure Kaba, and 33 other villages. 10,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Ethnic population: 50,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Fulajon Kan, Fulajonkan, Jon Kule, Ourekabakan Dialects: Kankalabe Kakabe, Kuru-Maninka, Sokotoro Kakabe, Wure-Maninka. Similar to Mogofin [mfg], but 250 km apart. Lexically similarity: 50% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk], 58% with Mogofin [mfg] (Rainwater 2002).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole Comments: Ethnically separate from Eastern Maninkakan [emk]. Muslim.
Kissi, Northern
[kqs] Faranah Region, Kissidougou prefecture. Also in Sierra Leone. 287,000 in Guinea (Vanderaa 1991). Population total all countries: 327,000. Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Gizi, Kisi, Kisie, Kissien Dialects: Kama, Liaro, Teng, Tung. Similar to Sherbro [bun]. Southern Kissi [kss] of Liberia and Sierra Leone is different.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Bullom-Kissi, Kissi Comments: Many loanwords from Western Maninkakan [mlq]. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.
Kla-Dan
[lda] Nzérékoré Region, near Côte d’Ivoire border, Goh, Farakouroudougou, Fakolidou, and Gbogboda villages. About 30 villages between Beyla and Sinko. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Tura-Dan
Kono
Kpelle, Guinea
[gkp] Nzérékoré Region, southeast at Liberia border. 460,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 5 (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Akpese, Gbese, Gerse, Gerze, Guerze, Kpele, Kpelese, Kpelesetina, Kperese, Kpese, Kpwessi, Northern Kpele, Pessa, Pessy Dialects: Central Kpelle, Gbali, Heghe. Different enough from Kpelle [xpe] of Liberia to need separate materials. Lexical similarity: 52%–67% with Kono [knu].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Kpelle Comments: ’Guerze’ is the French name. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.
Kuranko
[knk] Between Faranah and Kissidougou and toward Kerouané. 55,200 in Guinea (1991). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Koranko Dialects: Faranah, Fineriya, Sankaran.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole Comments: Ethnically distinct from Eastern Maninkakan [emk]. Traditional religion, Muslim.
Landoma
[ldm] Between upper Rio Nunez and upper Rio Pongas. 14,400 (Vanderaa 1991). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cocoli, Landouman, Landuma, Tiapi, Tyapi, Tyopi Dialects: Tiapi (Tapessi). Similar to Binari Baga [bcg] and Themne [tem].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Mel, Temne, Baga Comments: Traditional religion, Muslim.
Lele
[llc] West and southwest of Kissidou, Mato river west. Main centers are Yombiro, Tangalto, and Kassadou. 23,000 (1998 B. Willits). 12,000 in Kissidougou Prefecture and 11,000 in Guekedou. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Dialects: Kassadou Lele (South Lele), Kounte Lele (Central Lele), Tangalto Lele (East Lele), Yombiro Lele (North Lele). Kassadou cannot understand Tangalto. Lexical similarity: 55% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk] and Mogofin [mfg], 73% with Kuranko [knk] of Sierra Leone.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole Comments: Muslim.
Limba, East
[lma] Also in Sierra Leone. 4,000 in Guinea (Johnstone 1993). 2,000 speakers of the Ke subdialect of Northern Limba (1991 J. Kaiser). Population total all countries: 4,600. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Yimba, Yumba Dialects: Northern Limba (Ke-Woya-Yaka, Warawara).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Limba Comments: Quite different from West-Central Limba [lia] of Sierra Leone. Traditional religion, Muslim.
Mandingo
Maninka, Konyanka
[mku] Nzérékoré Region, Beyla prefecture. Gbasando dialect: Kabadian Mallerou, Ouanino, Dyibarou, Balanfe, Diatela, Boukorodou villages along the Beyla-Sinko road and to the north of Sinko. Woroduu dialect: Sokourala subprefecture. Karagba dialect: Lola subprefecture. Also in Liberia. 210,000 in Guinea (2012 V. Vydrin). Population total all countries: 249,200. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Konya, Konyakakan, Konyanka Dialects: Gbasando, Gbeeka, Karagba, Konya, Woroduu. Gbasando speakers are believed to be Fulbe by origin. Woroduu is different from Worodougou [jud] in Côte d’Ivoire, similar to Wojenaka [jod].. Lexical similarity: 72% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding Comments: Speakers of the eastern dialects often refer to themselves as Jula. Muslim.
Maninka, Sankaran
[msc] 77,000 (2006). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Faranah, Sankarankan Dialects: Lexical similarity: 79% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding Comments: Muslim.
Maninkakan, Eastern
[emk] Widespread in Kankan and northern Faranah regions, except Siguiri prefecture. All urban areas in Guinea. Also in Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone. 3,000,000 in Guinea (2012 V. Vydrin). 73,500 Wasulu. Population total all countries: 3,531,800. Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Eastern Malinke, Kankan Maninka, Malinké, Mande, Maninka, Southern Maninka Dialects: Amana (Kourousa), Baliya, Gbereduu, Maninka-Mori (Mori), Toron, Wasulunkakan (Wasolon Maninka, Wassulu, Wassulunka, Wassulunke, Wasuu). Maninka of Liberia is the same as Maninka of Guinea (Eastern Maninkakan), Bambara [bam] of Mali and parts of Senegal is not vastly different. Eastern Maninkakan of Côte d’Ivoire is similar to Bambara; Western Maninkakan [mlq] of south central and southeast Senegal is considerably different. Lexical similarity: 92% with Wasulunkakan dialect, 79% with Sankaran Maninka [msc], 72% with Konyanka Maninka [mku].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding Comments: Muslim.
Mano
[mev] Nzérékoré Region, east of Kpelle [gkp] language area; Lola and Yomou prefectures. 85,000 in Guinea (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Maa, Mah, Manon, Mawe Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Guro-Tura, Tura-Dan-Mano, Mano Comments: Traditional religion.
Manya
[mzj] Nzérékoré Region, Macenta prefecture. 25,000 in Guinea (1997 G. Pruett). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Mandingo, Maniya, Manya Kan Dialects: Koinyaka, Manya.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Southeastern Manding Comments: Muslim, Christian.
Mbulungish
[mbv] Coast north of Nunez river. 22 villages. 5,000 (1998 B. Willits). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Baga Foré, Baga Monson, Black Baga, Bulunits, Longich, Monchon, Monshon Dialects: Related to Nalu [naj] and Baga Mboteni [bgm].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Mbulungish-Nalu Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
Mogofin
[mfg] Northwest maritime Guinea, to the south of Boke. 20,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Mikifore, Mixifore Dialects: Mutually intelligible of Kakabe [kke], but 250 km apart. Apparently similar to the Vai-Kono-Kuranko subgroup (1995 V. Vydrin). Lexical similarity: 51% with Eastern Maninkakan [emk], 55% with Lele [llc], 54%–58% with varieties of Kuranko [knk].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Mokole Comments: Ethnic autonym: Mixifore (Susu: black person). Muslim.
Nalu
[naj] Near Boké, Katchek island. Also in Guinea-Bissau. 13,000 in Guinea (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 21,830. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Nalou Dialects: Related to Mbulungish [mbv] and Baga Mboteni [bgm].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Mbulungish-Nalu Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.
N’ko
[nqo] Also in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone. No known L1 speakers in Guinea. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Mixed language Comments: A mixture of Mande languages: Bamanankan [bam], Eastern Maninkakan [emk], Jula [dyu], and Mandinka [mnk].
Pulaar
[fuc] Dinguiray, 1 village; near Sareboido, a few villages. 24,000 in Guinea (1991). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Fulfulde Pulaar, Haalpulaar, Peul, Peulh Dialects: Fulacunda (Fula Preto, Fulakunda, Fulkunda), Toucouleur (Futa Toro, Pulaar, Tukolor, Tukulor).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, Western Comments: Many Arabic loans. The official orthography is different from that used elsewhere. Muslim.
Pular
[fuf] Northwest, Fouta Djallon area. Also in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone. 2,550,000 in Guinea (Vanderaa 1991). Population total all countries: 2,929,200. Status: 2 (Provincial). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Foula Fouta, Fouta Dyalon, Fulbe, Fulfulde Jalon, Fullo Fuuta, Futa Fula, Futa Jallon, Fuuta Jalon, Jalon Dialects: Fula Peta, Kebu Fula. Different enough from Pulaar [fuc] in Senegal to need separate literature. In Sierra Leone, recent immigrants from Guinea speak the original Futa Jallon dialect or the Kebu dialect (Dalby 1962). A slightly modified form of Futa Jallon is known as Krio Fula with many loans from Sierra Leone languages.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, West Central Comments: Heavy borrowing from Arabic. Formerly, extensive literature in Pular, but little still exists. Muslim, Christian.
Susu
[sus] Mainly southwest and west. Also in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Sierra Leone. 906,000 in Guinea (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Population total all countries: 1,060,280. Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Sose, Soso, Soussou, Susoo Dialects: Distinct from Yalunka [yal].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka Comments: Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.
Toma
[tod] South, between Macenta and Kissidougou. 220,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Status: 4 (Educational). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Toa, Toale, Toali, Tooma Dialects: Gizima, Koima, Konokoro, Lulama, Manyaka, Vekema, Weima, Yala. Distinct enough from Loma [lom] of Liberia to need separate literature.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma, Loma Comments: Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.
Wamey
[cou] Boké Region, Koundara prefecture and Youkounkoun area, to Senegal border. 5,270 in Guinea (2001 G. Pruett). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cogniagui, Conhague, Coniagui, Koniagi, Konyagi, Tenda, Wamay, Wamei Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda Comments: Ethnic autonym: Wamey. Peul word ‘Konyagi’, bees. Nomadic. Over 3,000 migrate from Guinea to Senegal annually; many stay longer. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.
Yalunka
[yal] West of Faranah, south toward Sierra Leone border, north to Passaya; Balaki subprefecture, Senegal-Mali border. Also in Mali (Jalunga), Senegal (Jalunga), Sierra Leone. 55,500 in Guinea (2002 SIL). Population total all countries: 104,500. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Dialonke, Djallonke, Dyalonke, Jalonke, Jalunga, Yalunke Dialects: Firia, Sulima. Similar to Susu [sus], but only marginally intelligible. Lexical similarity: 83%–92% among dialects.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka Comments: Muslim.
Zialo
[zil] Nzérékoré Region, Macenta prefecture, Zembezou and Panziazou subprefectures. 45 villages. About third of Zialo speakers live in the cities of Guinea. 25,000 (2010 V. Vydrin). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Shialu, Ziolo, Ziyolo Dialects: Bayawa, Kelighigo, Lawolozu, Wolo-Ziolo, Woyjawa. Similar to Bandi [bza] and Toma [tod].
Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Southwestern, Mende-Loma Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.