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)