Bambara language

Bambara, also known as Bamana (N'Ko script: ߓߡߊߣߊ߲) or Bamanankan (N'Ko script: ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲; Arabic script: بامانانكان), is a lingua franca and national language of Mali spoken by perhaps 14 million people, natively by 4.2 million Bambara people and about 10 million second-language users. It is estimated that about 80 percent of the population of Mali speak Bambara as a first or second language. It has a subject–object–verb clause structure and two lexical tones.

Bambara
Bámánánkán / بامانانكان / ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲
Native toMali
Regioncentral southern Mali
EthnicityBamana
Native speakers
L1: 4.2 million (2012)
L2: 10 million (2012)
Niger-Congo?
  • Mande
    • Western
      • Manding
        • East
          • Bambara–Dyula
            • Bambara
Writing system
Latin, Arabic (Ajami), N'ko
Official status
Official language in
Mali (co-official)
Language codes
ISO 639-1bm
ISO 639-2bam
ISO 639-3bam
Glottologbamb1269
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.