Senufo language page

Classification and where spoken

The term "Senufo" refers both to a language (Senari) and a branch of Gur (Voltaic) that includes four distinct languages: Palaka, Dymini-Tagwana, Central Senufo (Senari), and Northern Senufo (including the dialects of Suppire and Minianka) (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Senari, which means "the (Senufo) language," also stands for the language spoken in northern Côte d'Ivoire and a small part of Mali. The related language of Suppire (Minianka) is listed separately in this Handbook.

Number of speakers

Dialect
Number of Speakers
Source
(cited in Grimes 1996)
Senoufo, Cebaara
862,000

SIL 1993
Senoufo, Niarafolo-Niafolo
42,000

SIL 1995
Senoufo, Shenara
136,500

Vanderaa 1991
Senoufo, Djimini
95,500

SIL 1993
Senoufo, Tagwana
138,100

SIL 1993

Usage

Senufo is a local first language.

Orthographic status

Senufo languages in Côte d'Ivoire use the official orthography developed for all languages in that country.

Sets of learning materials

One set of materials would be sufficient.