Alternate Names: East Songhay, Gao Songhay, Koroboro Senni, Koyra Senni, Koyra Senni Songhay, Songai, Songay, Songay Senni, Songhai, Songhay, Songoi, Songoy, Sonrai, Sonrhai
Dialects: Fulan Kirya, Gao. Intelligibility good among all dialects on Niger River. Fulan Kirya dialect has more limited intelligibility through heavy lexical borrowing from Fulfulde , and Humburi Senni Songhay ,. The Gao dialect is dominant in all respects. Lexical similarity: 77% with Gao and Timbuktu dialects; 50% with Tadaksahak ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 430,000 (2007 SIL), increasing. 300,000 monolinguals (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 850,000.
Language Use: All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Bamanankan [bam], French [fra], Tamasheq [taq]. Bilingualism is not extensive (1999 J. Heath).
Language Development: Actively promoted by the government through adult literacy classes and as the language of instruction at the primary level in some experimental schools. Some French literacy. Taught in primary schools. New media. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2004.
Typology: SOV; nontonal.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Mali
Other Comments: Muslim, traditional religion.