Nuni, Northern

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A language of Burkina Faso

ISO 639-3
nuv
Alternate Names
Nibulu, Nouni, Nounouma, Nuna, Nune, Nunuma, Nuruma
Population

45,000 (1995 SIL). 15,000–25,000 in Northwestern Nuni, 25,000–35,000 in Northeastern Nuni.

Location

Sissili and Sanguié provinces, near Boromo. Dialect dividing line is Mouhoun river.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Northern
Dialects

Northeastern Nuni, Northwestern Nuni. Northern Nuni users have no comprehension of Southern Nuni [nnw]. Similar to Kasem [xsm] and Lyélé [lee].

Typology

SVO; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix, 1 suffix; word order distinguishes subject and object; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVV, CVCV; tonal

Language Use

All ages. Some also use Jula [dyu]; Lyélé [lee], or French [fra].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 5% in French. High motivation for literacy. Government coordinated literacy program in Sanguié and Sissili provinces.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nuni, Northern
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.