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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Senegal > Oniyan

Oniyan

A language of Senegal

ISO 639-3: bsc

Population	13,300 in Senegal (2006). Population total all countries: 22,510.
Region	Southeast, Upper Casamance, Edun area; border areas, Kedougou, Tambacounda. Also in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau.
Language map	Senegal and the Gambia, reference number 24
Alternate names	Ayan, Basari, Bassari, Biyan, Onëyan, Onian, Tenda Basari, Wo
Dialects	Northern Oniyan. Closely related to Bedik [tnr].
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda
Language use	National language.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. NT: 1988.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	‘Tenda’ is used as a cover term for Oniyan [bsc], Badyara [pbp], Wamey [cou], Bedik [tnr]. High mortality rate. Women intermarry with men from Fulbe and other groups; children become part of the other group. Trading is carried on with the Fulbe. Traditionally hunter-gatherers; now agriculturalists: millet, peanuts, fonyo, beans; in cities: bamboo fence makers; domestic help. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Guinea

Language name	Bassari
Population	8,600 in Guinea (Vanderaa 1991).
Language map	Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, reference number 6
Alternate names	Ayan, Basari, Biyan, Oneyan, Onian, Tenda Basari, Wo
Dialects	Southern Bassari.
Comments	Matrilineal. Traditional religion, Muslim.

Guinea-Bissau

Language name	Bassari
Population	510 in Guinea-Bissau (2006).
Region	Northeast.
Language map
Alternate names	Oniyan, Onian, Onëyan, Ayan, Biyan, Wo, Basari
Dialects	Southern Bassari.
Comments	Traditional religion, Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BONANG, Jean Thionta; WINTERS, James; WINTERS, Patricia, authors; BIDIAR, Blaise Endega; BOUBANE, Gerard Thiara, researchers. Available: 2012; Created: 2004-08-05. Dialectal Situation of the Bassari.  

WINTERS, James; WINTERS, Patricia, authors. Available: 2012; Created: 2004-12. A Grammar of Oniyan.