Alternate Names: Fula, Fulani, Fulbe, Peul, Peulh
Dialects: Wodaabe. Culturally distinct from other Fulfulde varieties. Many loanwords from Hausa. A member of macrolanguage Fulah ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 450,000 (1998).
Language Use: Also use Hausa [hau].
Language Development: Taught in a few experimental primary schools. Radio programs. TV. Bible portions: 2006.
Typology: SVO; prepositions and postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word final; 1 prefix, 9 suffixes; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects, given and new information, topic and comment; verb affixes mark number, subject (obligatory); class marking with participle obligatory; middle and passive voice; causatives; CV, CVC, CVV, CVVC; nontonal.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Niger
Other Comments: Ethnic autonym: ‘Pullo’ (sg.) or ‘Fulbe’ (pl.); Other ethnonyms: ‘Fulani’ (English); ‘Peul’ (French). The Fulbe (15,000,000) from Senegal to Sudan consider themselves 1 ethnic group speaking 1 language, but acknowledge differences in speech. Muslim, traditional religion.