Soninke

A language of Mali

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Aswanek, Aswanik, Azer, Ceddo, Cheddo, Gangara, Genger, Kwara, Maraka, Marka, Markaajo, Markakan, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Sarangkole, Sarangkolle, Saraxuli, Sebbe, Serahule, Serecole, Sooninke, Wakkore, Wankara

Autonym

Sooninkanxanne

Population

1,280,000 in Mali (2009 census), increasing. Total users in all countries: 2,138,110.

Location

Kayes region: Kayes, Nioro, and Yélimané circles; Koulikoro region: Banamba, Kolokani, Koulikoro, and Nara circles; Ségou region: Baraouéli and Ségou circles. 6 principal towns, 163 villages.

Language Maps

Guinea and Guinea-Bissau

Central Mali: Enlarged area

Southern Mali

Western Mali

Mauritania

Senegal and The Gambia

Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke

Dialects

Kinbakka, Kinxenna, Geriga (Giriga). Giriga dialect heavily influenced by Hassaniya Arabic [mey].

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam], French [fra], Hassaniyya [mey], Pulaar [fuc]. Used as L2 by Kagoro [xkg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. At Bamako university, there are now many more Soninke students who choose this language than before, and numbers are rising. The language is also used in adult education in the Soninke region, especially around Yelimané (2013 SIL). Taught in some elementary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 2001–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Soninke

Writing

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

Other Comments

Different from Marka [rkm]. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Gambia

Language nameSerahule

Population Full

166,000 in Gambia (2006 World Factbook), increasing.

Location

Southeast corner, mainly MacCarthy Island and Upper River divisions. 17 villages.

Alternate Names

Sarakole, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Saraxuli, Soninke, Sooninkanxanne

Dialects

Kinxenna, Kinbakka.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The Soninke of The Gambia and those of southern Senegal, Kolda region, form one contiguous, cross-border language community. Muslim.

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Guinea

Language nameSarakolé

Population Full

12,000 in Guinea (2018 M. Dramé).

Location

Boké region: Boké and Koundara; Kankan region: Kankan; Kindia region: Conakry and Kindia; Labé region: Badougoula, Linsan, and Manda.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Many Soninke/Sarakolé of Guinea no longer speak Soninke (2018 P. Jorgensen). Adults only.

Language Development

Agency: L’Union des Sarakolés de la Guinée pour le développement.

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Guinea-Bissau

Language nameSoninke

Population Full

5,110 in Guinea-Bissau (2014 J. Leclerc).

Location

Gabu region: Pirada and Sonaco sectors; scattered in other major towns and cities.

Alternate Names

Maraka, Marka, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Status

5* (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Mandinka [mnk], Pulaar [fuc], Upper Guinea Crioulo [pov].

Language Development

Beginning literacy classes.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Trace their origins to Gambia and Mali. Ethnic groups: Aser, Aswanik, Gadyaga, Marka, Markanka, Nono, Saracole, Sarawule, Serahuli, Tonbakai, Wakove. Muslim.

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Mauritania

Language nameSoninke

Population Full

204,000 in Mauritania (2016), increasing.

Location

Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, and Guidimaka regions: Kaedi and Selibaby towns; 45 villages.

Alternate Names

Aswanek, Aswanik, Azer, Gangara, Genger, Maraka, Marka, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Dialects

Azer (Adjer, Aser), Kinxenna, Kinbakka.

Status

5 (Developing). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use French [fra], Hassaniyya [mey], Pulaar [fuc].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 20% in French [fra], 10% in Arabic [arb]. Used as a language of instruction in a few experimental schools (2010 J. LeClerc).

Other Comments

Muslim.

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Senegal

Language nameSoninke

Population Full

281,000 in Senegal (2015 J. Leclerc), increasing.

Location

Kolda region: north of Velingara; Matam region: Kanel district; Tambacounda region: Koudi area along Senegal river south bank (Kinxenna dialect). 42 villages, Bakel, Moudéri, Ouaoundé, and Yaféra are principal towns.

Alternate Names

Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Sarangkolle, Saraxuli, Serahule, Soninkanxanne

Dialects

Kinxenna.

Status

6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2001, Constitution, Article 1).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam], French [fra], Pulaar [fuc], Wolof [wol].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 1%–42%.

Other Comments

Kolda region Soninke trace their origins back to the eastern dialect area of Mali (Kinbakka); northeastern Senegal group is part of the western Mali group (Kinxenna). Thus, significant differences exist between dialects of the 2 geographical groups in Senegal. Extensive interaction between Soninke of The Gambia and those of southern Senegal, Kolda region. Kolda region speakers are geographically isolated from those in northeastern Senegal. Muslim.

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Ethnologue

Soninke

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A language of Mali

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