Jola-Fonyi

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A language of Senegal

ISO 639-3
dyo
Alternate Names
Diola-Fogny, Dyola, Jola-Fogny, Jóola-Fóoñi, Kujamataak, Kújoolaak kati Kúfooñaak, Yola
Population

340,000. 243,000 Fonyi, 96,700 Buluf. 34,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 397,100.

Location

Ziguinchor and Sedhiou regions: Casamance river area north of Senegal-Gambia border; Diouloulou-Marigot tributary west, Soungrougrou river west, Bignona area; east and southeast of Ziguinchor town.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (2001, Constitution, Article 1).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi
Dialects

Buluf, Kombo, Kalounaye, Narang. Jola-Fonyi is the largest and most widely understood Jola variety. Lexical similarity: 68% with Jola-Kasa [csk].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains, oral and written use in administration, informal use in education. Oral use in commerce, traditional religion, some use in other religious services. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use French [fra], Mandinka [mnk], Upper Guinea Crioulo [pov], Wolof [wol]. Used as L2 by Bandial [bqj], Gusilay [gsl], Karon [krx], Kuwaataay [cwt], Mankanya [knf], Mlomp [mlo], Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Experimental pilot classes since 2002. Buluf dialect seems to have many lexical items different from Fonyi, but Buluf speakers are willing to learn to read Fonyi. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Jola-Fonyi
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Distinct from Jula [dyu] (Dioula, Dyoula, Dyula) of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

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