Samo (Sane, San, Sa), also known as Mande Samo, is a dialect cluster of Mande languages spoken in Burkina Faso and Mali.
Varieties Intelligibility between Samo varieties is low. The following have been coded as separate languages:
Matya Samo, spoken in Kossi Province, Sourou Province (Nouna and Solenzo areas) and Mali Maya Samo, spoken in Sourou Province, Yatenga Province, and Zondoma Province Southern/Maka Samo, spoken in Nayala Province (Nouna and Solenzo areas); Sourou Province; Sanguié Province; Passoré ProvinceThe Seenku Sembla language is also called 'Southern Samo'.
Demographics Samo dialect populations and locations:
Dialect Region Population (1985) Population (2001Estimate, with 2.68% annual increase) Maka Southern, surrounding Toma 61,883 84,996 Matya Northwest, to the west and north of Tougan (excluding Toéni area) 33,675 46,252 Matya Far Northwest (Toéni region) 9,942 13,655 Maya Northeast, surrounding Kiembara and Bangassogo 38,393 52,732 all Total 143,893 197,635
List of Samo villages organised by department and dialect:Berthelette, John (2002). Survey report on the San (Samo) language. SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2002-005. (PDF)
Dialect Province Department Villages Maka Mouhoun Tchériba Bissandérou, Orobié, Youbou Maka Nayala Gassan Dieré, Djimbara, Gassan, Labara, Laré, Moara, Téri Maka Nayala Gossina Bosson, Boun, Gossina, Kalabo, Koayo, Le Koun, Madamao, Massako, Naboro, Nianonkoré, Nypon, Sui, Tandou, Tarba, Zebassé Maka Nayala Kougny Goin, Gougnan, Gouri, Kamba, Kibiri, Kougny, Niaré, Nimina, Sébéré, Tiouma Maka Nayala Toma Goa, Goussi, Koin, Kola, Konti, Niemé, Nyon, Pankélé, Samba, Sawa, Sien, Siepa, To, Toma, Yayo, Zouma Maka Nayala Yaba Biba, Bo, Bounou, Kéra, Kisson, La, Loguin, Sapala, Saran, Siena, Tiema, Tosson, Yaba Matya Sourou Di Benkadi, Poura Matya Sourou Kassoum Bangassi, Bao, Bassam, Bonro, Diele, Doussoula, Fialla, Fian, Fianra, Kankani, Kassoum, Koularé, Kourani, Mara-Grand, Mara-Petit, Ourkoum, P’Nare, Peni, Sorona, Soumara Boumba, Soumarani, Tianra, Tiao, Tombila, Toungourou, Wawara Matya Sourou Lanfiéra Guiedougou, Lanfiéra Matya Sourou Tougan Da, Dimboro, Diouroum, Dissi, Gonou, Gosson, Kassan, Kawara, Kouy, Nassan, Tougan, Tourgare, Zinzin Matya? Sourou Toéni Dagale, Domoni, Dounkou, Gome, Gon, Gorguéré, Kware-Manguel, Kware-Toksel, Louta, Toéni Maya Sourou Gomboro Ganagoulo, Gomboro, Konga, Sia Maya Sourou Kiembara Bangassogo, Gan, Goueré, Gouyalle, Kiembara, Ouelle Maya Sourou Lankoué Lankoué Samo, Rassouli, Tourouba Maya Sourou Toéni Sanan, Sanga, Semé Maya Sourou Tougan Bonou, Bouare, Boussoum, Daka, Guimou, Niankore, Touare, Yéguéré
Sample vocabulary Sample basic vocabulary of Samo dialects:
Village Dialect eye ear nose tooth tongue mouth blood bone water tree eat Toma Maka jǐ to ɲɛ̃ sɔ lɛwɔ lɛ mɑ̀ wɛ mú dɑ ɑ̀mɑ́mbíː Kouy Matya jɛrːɛ toro jiːni sɔ̃ːnɛ nɛnɛ lɛ mɪjɑ̀ jɛrɛ mú dɑ́ ɑnebɑ́rè Kassoum Matya ɲɑ́n toro ɲú sɔ̃n nɛnɛ lɛ mɪjɑ̀ jɛr mũ dɑ́ ɑ̀nèbɛrɛ Toéni Matya jɛ toro jí sɛ nɛn li mɑ̌ː wɑ mũ jidɑ̀ mɑːbɛ̀rɛ̀ Bounou Maya ɲoːnì; jɛrɛ toro ɲinijɛrɛ so leːnè lɛ mɑ̌ jɑre mu dɑ ɑfɑ́bjèrè Kiembara Maya ɲɛ́nɛ̀nɛ̀ tɔrɔ ɲìní so lɛ́lɑ̀ːnɑ̀ lɛ́ mɑ̌ː jɛ̀rɛ̀ mṹ dɑ́ ɑ̀gɑ̀bɛ̀rɛ̀ Bangassogo Maya jere toro jindì so lelene le ɲɑ̀mɑ wɛrɛ mú jídɑ ɑbɑ́brì Lankoué Maya jɛrɛ toro sinde sɔ̀ lemìnì lɛ jõ̀mɑ wɛrɛ mú jidɑ̀ ɑbɑbɛ̀rɛ̀
Writing System + Southern Samo alphabet a b c d e ɛ ə f i k kp l m n ŋ o ɔ p r s t u w y
+ Maya Samo alphabet a b c d e ɛ f g h i ɩ j k lmnɲoɔprstuʋwyz
Notes and references
Works cited