Manding Languages - Subdivisions

Subdivisions

The Manding tongues, and what distinguishes one from the rest and relationships among all of them are matters that continue to be researched. In addition, the nomenclature - being a mixture of indigenous terms and words applied by English and French speakers since before colonization - makes the picture complex and even confusing.

The Mandinka people speak varieties from the first two groups; the differences between the western and eastern branches manifest themselves primarily phonetically. While dialects of the western group usually have 10 vowels (5 oral and 5 long/nasal), the eastern group, typified by Bambara, has 14 vowels (7 oral and 7 nasal):

Manding-West

• Kassonke – Western Maninka (Mali, Senegal)
• Mandinka (Senegal, Gambia)
• Kita Maninka (Mali)
• Jahanka (Guinea; one of several dialects under this name)

Manding-East

• Marka (Dafin) (Burkina Faso)
• Bambara–Dyula (Northeastern Manding; Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast)
• Eastern Maninka (Southeastern Manding; multiple varieties)
• Bolon (Burkina Faso)

In addition, Sininkere (Burkina Faso) is of unclear placement within Manding.