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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Benin > Boko

Boko

A language of Benin

ISO 639-3: bqc

Population  70,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones). Population total all countries: 110,000.
Region  Borgu Province. Also in Nigeria.
Language map  Benin, reference number 8
Alternate names   Bokonya, Boo
Dialects  Closely related languages in Nigeria: Busa [bqp], Bokobaru [bus], Shanga [sho]. Lexical similarity: 90% with Busa, 86% with Bokobaru, 52% with Kyenga [tye], 51% with Bissa [bib] in Burkina Faso.
Classification  Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Eastern, Busa
Language use  Positive attitude. Also use French (Benin), Hausa [hau], Yoruba [yor], Baatonum [bba], or Fulfulde [fub].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 6%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1992.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  SOV; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial or final; 4 suffixes; word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object; postpositions; person, number, aspect indicated in subject pronoun; tone indicates verb aspect; passives; CV, CCV; tonal. Peasant agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Nigeria

Language name   Boko
Population  40,000 in Nigeria (1995 R. Jones).
Region  Niger state, Borgu LGA; Kebbi state, Bagudo LGA, Senji north to Kenugbe and Kaoje, 150 km south and Demmo, 50 km east. 35 villages.
Language map  Nigeria, Map 1, reference number 6
Alternate names  Bokonya
Language use  Positive attitude. Also use Baatonum [bba], Hausa [hau], or English.
Language development  Adult literacy program.
Comments  Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.