Jula

A language of Côte d’Ivoire

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Dioula, Diula, Djula, Dyoula, Dyula, Jula Kong, Kong Jula, Tagboussikan

Autonym

Julakan

Population

8,500,000 in Côte d’Ivoire, all users. L1 users: 1,500,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). L2 users: 7,000,000 (2012 V. Vydrin). Total users in all countries: 12,486,000 (as L1: 2,208,000; as L2: 10,278,000).

Location

Savanes and Zanzan districts; widespread in all major cities.

Language Maps

Burkina Faso

Côte d’Ivoire

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Widespread in all major cities.

Classification

Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Northeastern Manding, Bamana

Dialects

None known. Spoken as L1 or L2 by millions of people of diverse ethnic backgrounds in West Africa. Mutually intelligible with Bambara [bam], Kita Maninkakan [mwk], and Eastern Maninkakan [emk].

Language Use

Also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Abidji [abi], Abron [abr], Anyin [any], Attié [ati], Beng [nhb], Cebaara Sénoufo [sef], Dan [dnj], Djimini Sénoufo [dyi], Dogoso [dgs], Gban [ggu], Jeri Kuo [jek], Khe [kqg], Mwan [moa], Ngen [gnj], Nyabwa [nwb], Plapo Krumen [ktj], Southern Toussian [wib], Téén [lor], Tepo Krumen [ted], Toura [neb], Wan [wan], Wè Southern [gxx], Wè Western [wec], Yaouré [yre].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2013.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Jula

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn]. N’Ko script [Nkoo], used in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

Other Comments

Majority ethnic Jula. Government designated as 1 of 5 languages to be developed for literature. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Burkina Faso

Language nameJula

Population Full

3,616,000 in Burkina Faso, all users. L1 users: 616,000 (2009 UNSD). L2 users: 3,000,000 (2012 V. Vydrine).

Location

Boucle du Mouhoun region: Kossi province; Cascades region: Comoe and Leraba provinces; Hauts-Bassins region: Houet province; Kenedougou province, scattered.

Alternate Names

Dioula, Dioula Véhiculaire, Diula, Djula, Dyoula, Dyula, Jula Kong, Julakan, Kong Jula, Tagboussikan, Trade Jula

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Used as a trade language in the western half of the country, and sub-populations in all major cities.

Language Use

All ages. Used as L2 by Bolon [bof], Bomu [bmq], Buamu [box], Cerma [cme], Cwi Bwamu [bwy], Dagaari Dioula [dgd], Dogosé [dos], Dogoso [dgs], Dyan [dya], Dzùùngoo [dnn], Eastern Karaboro [xrb], Jalkunan [bxl], Kaansa [gna], Khisa [kqm], Konabéré [bbo], Láá Láá Bwamu [bwj], Lobi [lob], Lyélé [lee], Malba Birifor [bfo], Marka [rkm], Matya Samo [stj], Maya Samo [sym], Mòoré [mos], Nanerigé Sénoufo [sen], Natioro [nti], Northern Nuni [nuv], Northern Toussian [tsp], Pana [pnq], Phuie [pug], Seeku [sos], Siamou [sif], Sìcìté Sénoufo [sep], Southern Bobo Madaré [bwq], Southern Samo [sbd], Southern Toussian [wib], Téén [lor], Tiéfo [tiq], Turka [tuz], Viemo [vig], Wara [wbf], Western Karaboro [kza].

Language Development

Not taught in government schools.

Other Comments

Different from Jola [dyo] (Diola) of Senegal. Majority not ethnic Jula. Muslim.

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Mali

Language nameJula

Population Full

370,000 in Mali, all users. L1 users: 92,000 (2013 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 278,000 (2013 SIL).

Location

Widespread, in southeast.

Alternate Names

Dioula, Diula, Djula, Dyoula, Dyula, Julakan

Status

3 (Wider communication). Used for travel, market, and business communication.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Duungooma [dux], Jowulu [jow], Konabéré [bbo], Pana [pnq], Shempire Sénoufo [seb], Syenara Sénoufo [shz].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The Malian government recognizes Jula in Mali as Bambara [bam]. Muslim.

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Ethnologue

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A language of Côte d’Ivoire

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