Writing Systems

At least eight scripts exist for writing Senegambian languages. They are

  • Ajami: Arabic scripts adapted by non-Arab muslims to write their native languages - Wolof (Wolofal) and Fula, for instance. This is possibly one of the oldest scripts.
  • ADLaM: A novel script invented by two brothers from Guinea (1987) for writing Fula
  • Fula Ba: A Fula script created by Adama Ba from Mali, ca. 1963
  • Fula Dita: A 31-consonant, eight-vowel script invented by Oumar Dembele from Guinea ca. 1958-1966
  • Guinean (for the lack of a better name): Yet another Fula script developed out of Guinea
  • Latin: This class of scripts was introduced by colonialists, later forming the basis for UNESCO's "standardized" African language orthographies.
  • Garay: A novel script for writing Wolof invented by Assane Faye from Senegal (1961)

Below is a reference phylogeny tree demonstrating the relationship between the different languages of the Senegambian family.

Phylogeny of Senegambian Languages (adapted from Wikipedia)