Languages songhaï

The songhaï or sonrhaï ( songhaï is often written but one would have, in agreement with the current rule for West Africa, to write sonxay ) is a African language. The songhaï account 3 million speakers and is spoken in several countries about West Africa. The songhaï often is regarded as a language mandé.

Geographical distribution

The songhaï is characterized by a beam of Dialecte S, spoken mainly along the river Niger in the west in the interior delta with the Mali, in the Western part of the Niger, in the North-West of the Nigeria and in the north of the Bénin, about a close insulation around the mountains of Hombori in the south of Tombouctou, more in the east in the area of Agadez in the west of the solid mass of the Aïr and in the oases of Ingall, towards the end of the 19th century a dialect songhaï called Emgadesi was spoken in the town of Agadez. In end, more in North in the oases of Tabelbala (in Algérie), one speaks a language which is songhaï of structure but, mainly Arab and Berbère in his lexicon.

Classification

By the classification of the African languages, the songhaï is classified in the nilo-Saharan family. The relationship of the songhaï with the other nilo-Saharan languages is noted.

Groups

According to Nicolai, the songhaï is composed of two groups distinct from dialects: songhaï southernmost and songhaï septentrional . Mutual comprehension does not exist between this two groups.

Southernmost Songhaï

The southernmost songhaï is spoken mainly along the valley about the Niger, between Djenné and Labzenga (with the Mali) known under the name of Sonrhaï, then the zarma downstream until the North-West of the Nigeria, the dendi in the North of the Bénin. One also finds it in several villages of the Burkina Faso and with the Ghana.

Principal dialects (these three dialects of Mali are the songhaï itself or sonrhaï ):

  • Hombori Senni
  • Koyra Chiini
  • Koyraboro Senni

Other dialects:

  • Djerma
  • Dendi

Septentrional Songhaï

The septentrional songhaï is spoken by populations sedentary about Ingall and Aïr, and in the oases of Tabelbala (in Algeria), thus by populations nomad with Abala and Abalac with the Niger, and the Mali with Ménaka.

Principal dialects:

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