Wolof Language. Wolof. Wolof Language About: Wolof is a language of Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people. It is also spoken in the West African nations of Mauritania and The Gambia. Senegal Language Exchange - Senegalese Language Partners Click on a name for more information or to contact the member. Please share this with anybody you know that is planning to go to Senegal. Religious leaders known as the murid marabouts also contributed to the proliferation of Wolof. Wolof is the most widely spoken African language in Senegal, predominantly in urban areas. Unlike most other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a tonal language. In Senegal, although French is the official language, Wolof is the lingua franca, meaning people from different ethnic groups who do not understand one another’s language will use it to communicate. Modern Lebou still live in fishing villages. [ Electronic version of: Njàng : ñaareelu at. The status of Wolof as a commercial language expanded in the 20th century as Wolof merchants travelled around the region, even all the way south to Ziguinchor in Casamance. Welcome to the Columbia Wolof Language Program! Wolof is a language spoken mainly in Senegal, the Gambia and in the Diaspora. However, for many of them, large cities have grown up around them and much of their property has been confiscated for urban development. In terms of usage, Wolof is the lingua franca and the most widely spoken language in Senegal, as a first or second language (80%). During your three-week stay in Senegal you will spend several days in the rural area of Popenguine to practice Wolof with the local population. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres. The course is designed to give students an in-depth knowledge of the Wolof language and understanding of the culture and values of which it is the vehicle. That’s the local language for 5 million people in West Africa, so the activists are urgently appealing to Facebook for help. UCLA Language Profile; Wolof People; Windows Alt Codes. The capital is Dakar. Wolof English Dictionary Online Translation, Language, Grammar. Wolof belongs to the West-Atlantic group of the Niger-Congo family (like Fulfulde).It is spoken by about 3.5 million people, mostly in Senegal, where it is the main African language. Wolof is a language of Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people. Wolof (/ ˈ w ɒ l ɒ f /) is a language of Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people.Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo language family.Unlike most other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a tonal language.. Wolof originated as the language of the Lebou people. Since 2007 it has been our mission to provide English language resources for learning and utilizing the Wolof language. Within Senegal, approximately 40% of the total population (just over 15 million according to … Wolof not only refers to the people, but the language they speak, which has become the de facto tongue of Senegal. Get a detailed look at the language, from population to dialects and usage. Help us continue this mission by making a small contribution. Today Wolof is written with the Roman alphabet, which is a legacy of French colonial rule. A lot of poetry and religious texts are in Arabic. In the 11 th Century with the rise of Islam Wolof was then written in Arabic script. Wolof is Senegal's dominant language, although French is the country's official language. The Lebou people speak Wolof. Status. The official language of Senegal is French but it is regularly used only by those Senegalese who were educated in colonial-style French schools. Dakar, Senegal: African Language Materials Archive, 2001. Automatic Wolof translations brought to you by Janga Wolof. Wolof is the lingua franca, with 40% of the population speaking it natively and another 40% speaking it as a second language. The Republic of Senegal (French République da Sénégal) is a country in West Africa. In Windows, combinations of the ALT key plus a numeric code can be used to type a non-English character (accented letter or punctuation symbol) in any Windows application. In Senegal, anti-gay hate speech spreads on Facebook without restraint in abusive posts that are written in Wolof, LGBTQ+ advocates say. Jola (Diola) is a main language in the Casamance region. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the NigerCongo language family. Wolof-English dictionary (1995) (Peace Corps, Gambia) • Ay Baati Wolof [PDF] Wolof-English dictionary, by Pamela Munro & Dieynaba Gaye (1997) • WolofResources: Wolof-French-English vocabulary by topics • 17 minute languages: Wolof-English common phrases (+ audio) • Janga Wolof: Wolof-English common phrases It has population of about 13 million. About Wolof . A language profile for Wolof. Wolof is the majority language of the African country of Senegal and is found in other countries. Although French remains the official language, Wolof is the lingua franca with 40% speaking it natively and another 40% as a second language. [citation needed] Mande languages spoken include Soninke, and Mandinka. As in most African nations, dozens of distinct languages are spoken in the Senegambia region of West Africa. Senegal is best defined by the Wolof word “teranga,” which means “hospitality.” Senegal is known for its teranga, or hospitality, which it extends to visitors and neighbors alike. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold season . Unlike most other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a tonal language. However, they have their own distinctive dialect that sets them apart from the surrounding, and much larger, Wolof people group. This post will guide you to understanding the English meaning of many common Wolof phrases. [Dakar, Senegal : Association pour le développement de l'éducation et de la formation en Afrique (ADEF/Afrique), 2000]. Most are located in the West African countries of Senegal and The Gambia. Wolof is a language spoken by approximately 5.5 million people mostly in Senegal, but also in the Gambia and Mauritania. Unlike most other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a tonal language. Most Senegalese radio and television broadcasts are in French, but some are in Wolof. It is the native language of the Wolof people and is spoken in countries such as Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. Like the neighbouring language Pular, it belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The Wolof (aka Jolof or Djolof) Empire was a state on the coast of West Africa, located between the Senegal and Gambia rivers, which thrived from the mid-14th to mid-16th century CE.The empire prospered on trade thanks to the two rivers providing access to the resources of the African interior and coastal traffic, commerce which included gold, hides, ivory, and slaves, and which was … The Guinea Creole dialect, based on Portuguese is also spoken in that region. Wolof (/ ˈ w oʊ l ɒ f /) is a language of Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people.Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo language family.Unlike most other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a tonal language.. Wolof originated as the language of the Lebou people. The Wolof are a large ethnic group with a population of several million. ... Help keep Janga Wolof free and available for everyone! In recent years, however, the expansion of peanut cultivation and an acceleration towards urbanization has motivated many of the Wolof to spread out into Cote d'Ivoire and Mali. The official language of Senegal is French, but Wolof is … Wolof language, an Atlantic language of the Niger-Congo language family genetically related to Fula and Serer. The typical rural community is small (about 100 persons). While French is the official language of Senegal, Wolof is the most spoken regional language, with the Wolof people making up 43% of the populace. The course is deliberately designed to take full advantage of students’ immersion in Senegalese society. About 2.5 million Senegalese speak Wolof, and native Wolof speakers account for a third of the population. Wolof dialects may vary between countries (Senegal and Gambia) and the rural and urban areas. The intensive Wolof language course is primarily intended to enhance students’ Wolof oral and writing proficiency, and to introduce students to the variety of Senegal’s rural and urban cultures. Modern Senegal Wolof is one of the most widely spoken language of West Africa with upwards of ten million speakers. Wolof, also spelled Ouolof, a Muslim people of Senegal and The Gambia who speak the Wolof language of the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family.. 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