Basic Dagbani language information
Dagbani
A language of Ghana
ISO 639-3
dag
Alternate Names
Dagbamba, Dagbane, Dagomba
Autonym
Dagbanli
User Population
1,160,000 (2013 UNSD), increasing.
Location
Northern region: northeast of Tamale, as far as Yendi.
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational). Recognized language (1951, Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Southeast
Dialects
Nanuni (Nanumba). Lexical similarity: 95% with Mampruli [maw], 90% with Farefare [gur], 89% with Kusaal [kus].
Typology
SVO; 21 consonants and 11 vowels (6 short and 5 long).
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Also use English [eng].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 3%. Literacy rate in L2: 2%. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 3 and as subject thereafter. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dagbani
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 1968.
Other Comments
Muslim, traditional religion.