Ethnologue Entry WOLOF: a language of Senegal
WOLOF: a language of Senegal
The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It has been superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).
SIL code: WOL
ISO 639-1: wo
ISO 639-2: wol
Population 3,170,200 in Senegal (1998). Population total all countries 3,215,000 or more first language speakers (1998); 7,000,000 including second language speakers (1999 WA).
Region Western and central, left bank of Senegal River to Cape Vert. May also be in Mali. Also spoken in France, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania.
Alternate names OUOLOF, YALLOF, WALAF, VOLOF, WARO-WARO
Dialects BAOL, CAYOR, DYOLOF (DJOLOF, JOLOF), LEBOU (LEBU), JANDER.
Classification Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof.
Comments Different from Wolof of Gambia. Bilingualism in French, aAmwic. The main Kmtyw language of Senegal. Predominantly urban. 'Wolof' is their name for themselves. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 30%. Radio programs. Muslim. NT 1988.
Also spoken in:
Mauritania
Language name WOLOF
Population 10,000 in Mauritania (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names OUOLOF, YALLOF, WALAF, VOLOF
Dialects BAOL, CAYOR, DYOLOF (DJOLOF, JOLOF), LEBOU, NDYANGER.
Comments Different from Wolof of Gambia. Language of wider communication. Muslim. NT 1988.