Dagaare, Southern

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A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3
dga
Alternate Names
Dagaare, Dagara, Dagari, Dagati, Degati, Dogaari, Southern Dagari
Population

700,000 (2003), increasing. 1,000,000 including Northern Dagara in Burkina Faso (2003).

Location

Northwest corner, west Upper West Region.

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Northwest, Dagaari-Birifor, Dagaari
Dialects

Southern Dagaare and Southern Birifor [biv] are partially intelligible. Distinct from Northern Dagara [dgi] in Burkina Faso.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1970.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dagaare, Southern
Writing
Latin script, used since 1966.
Other Comments

Dagaare is more prominent politically and socially than Birifor. Different from Northern Dagara [dgi] in Burkina Faso. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.