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Manjak language

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Manjak
Manjáku
Native toGuinea-Bissau, Senegal, and the Gambia
EthnicityManjack
Native speakers
320,000 (2021–2022)[1]
Dialects
  • Bok
  • Ulekes
  • Ucur
  • Ulund
  • Uyu
  • Unuab
  • Uteer
  • Uyool
  • Uyanga
  • Undin
  • Ubuey
  • Uguejan
  • Utimats
  • Uroongaan
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3mfv
Glottologmand1419

Manjak or Manjack (French: Mandjak, Mandyak; Portuguese: Manjaco) or Njak is a Bak language of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The language is also known as Kanyop.

In 2006, the total number of speakers was estimated at 315,300, including 184,000 in Guinea-Bissau, 105,000 in Senegal and 26,300 in The Gambia.

Dialects

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The Manjak dialects below are distinct enough that some might be considered separate languages.[citation needed]

  • Bok (Babok, Sarar, Teixeira Pinto, Tsaam)
  • Likes-Utsia (Baraa, Kalkus)
  • Cur (Churo)
  • Lund
  • Yu (Pecixe, Siis, Pulhilh)
  • Unhate (Binhante, Bissau)

The Manjak dialects listed by Wilson (2007) are[2]

  • Canchungo (kancuŋuʔ) – central dialect
  • Baboque (babɔk) (formerly Teixeira Pinto) – eastern dialect
  • Churo (cuur) – northern dialect
  • Pecixe (locally called pəhlihl; otherwise pəsiis), on an island to the south
  • Calequisse (kaləkiis), to the west of Canchungo

Writing system

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The official spelling system for Manjak established by the Senegalese government is regulated by Decree No. 2005-983 of 21 October 2005.

Manjak alphabet (Senegal)
A B C D E Ë F G H I J K L M N Ñ Ŋ O P R S Ŝ T [illegible] U W Y Z
a b c d e ë f g h i j k l m n ñ ŋ o p r s ŝ t [illegible] u w y z

References

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  1. ^ Manjak at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Wilson, William André Auquier. 2007. Guinea Languages of the Atlantic group: description and internal classification. (Schriften zur Afrikanistik, 12.) Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Further reading

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  • Karlik, Jan (1972). A Manjako Grammar with Special Reference to the Nominal Group (PhD thesis). University of London.
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