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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Guinea > Yalunka

Yalunka

A language of Guinea

ISO 639-3: yal

Population  55,500 in Guinea (2002 SIL). Population total all countries: 104,500.
Region  West of Faranah, south toward Sierra Leone border, north to Passaya; Balaki Subprefecture, Senegal-Mali border. Also in Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone.
Language map  Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, reference number 41
Alternate names   Dialonke, Djallonke, Dyalonke, Jalonke, Jalunga, Yalunke
Dialects  Sulima, Firia. Similar to Susu [sus], but only marginally intelligible. Lexical similarity: 83%–92% among dialects.
Classification  Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Susu-Yalunka
Language development  NT: 1976.
Comments  Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Mali

Language name   Jalunga
Population  9,000 in Mali (2002 SIL).
Region  Extreme southwest corner, Faleya region, to where Baafing River reaches Mali-Guinea border.
Language map  Mali, Enlarged Area
Alternate names  Dialonke, Djallonke, Dyalonke, Jalonke, Yalunka, Yalunke
Dialects  Fontofa, Sangalaa, Sankaa, Tonxu.
Comments  Jalunga xuwiina’ is the language endonym. Jalungana (sg) or Jalunganéé (pl) is the people name. Fontofa dialect is spoken in Mali. Muslim.
 

Senegal

Language name   Jalunga
Population  10,000 in Senegal (2007 NTM), increasing.
Region  Southeast, intersection of Mali, Guinea, and Senegal borders.
Language map  Senegal and the Gambia, reference number 11
Alternate names  Dialonké, Djallonke, Dyalonke, Jalonké, Yalunka, Yalunke
Language use  National language. Vigorous. All domains. All ages.
Comments  The people call themselves Jalungas in Senegal and northern Guinea. Muslim.
 

Sierra Leone

Language name   Yalunka
Population  30,000 in Sierra Leone (2002 SIL).
Region  Northern Province, Balaki Subprefecture, Yifin area, Falaba area; Balaki, Kunsi, Bouria, Solia, Foulaya, Jouloubaya villages.
Language map  Sierra Leone, reference number 18
Alternate names  Dialonke, Djallonke, Jalonke, Jalunga, Kjalonke, Yalunke
Dialects  Musaia, Firia, Sulima.
Language use  Also use Eastern Maninkakan [emk] or Krio [kri].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 2%.
Comments  Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.