Dagbani

A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Dagbamba, Dagbane, Dagomba

Population

800,000 (2004 SIL), increasing.

Location

Northeast Tamale area, as far as Yendi.

Language Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (1951, Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44).

Classification

Dialects

Nanuni (Nanumba). Lexical similarity: 95% with Mampruli [maw], 90% with Farefare [gur], 89% with Kusaal [kus].

Typology

SVO

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 3%. Literacy rate in L2: 2%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2007.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script, used since 1968.

Other Comments

Ethnic autonym: Dagbamba or Dagomba; Ethnonym: Dagbani. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.