Songhay, Koyraboro Senni
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A language of Mali
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
East Songhay, Gao Songhay, Koroboro Senni, Koyra Senni, Koyra Senni Songhay, Songai, Songay, Songay Senni, Songhai, Songhay, Songoi, Songoy, Sonrai, Sonrhai
Population
430,000 (2007 SIL), increasing. 300,000 monolinguals (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 850,000.
Location
Gao region, along Niger river, Gao town area; Tombouctou region, from Niafunké to Niger border.
Language Maps
Language Status
5 (Developing). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).
Classification
Dialects
Gao, Fulan Kirya. Intelligibility good among all dialects on Niger River. Fulan Kirya dialect has more limited intelligibility through heavy lexical borrowing from Fulfulde [ffm] and Humburi Senni Songhay [hmb]. The Gao dialect is dominant in all respects. Lexical similarity: 77% with Gao and Timbuktu dialects; 50% with Tadaksahak [dsq].
Typology
SOV; nontonal.
Language Use
Language Development
Actively promoted by the government through adult literacy classes and as the language of instruction at the primary level in some experimental schools. Some French literacy. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2014.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Muslim, traditional religion.