Report of a sociolinguistic survey in Gao

1. Introduction

The team that went to Gao between January 29 and February 8 consisted of Phil Davison, Niels and Regula Christiansen, all members of SIL. However, the work would not have been completed without the considerable help of many other people: we would also like to thank the 'World Vision' team in Gao as well as the missionaries of the Evangelical Baptist Church. In addition, the local DNAFLA representatives for Songoy and Tamasheq were indispensable as interpreters and liaison agents.

Our general goal in going to Gao was to expand our knowledge of Tamasheq, Songoy and possibly Dausahaq. This work is by no means intended to be a definitive report on these languages: we are aware of the work that remains to be done before reaching such a point. We hope, however, that our efforts will constitute an advance, however small, in research, and above all an aid to these peoples in the development of their languages.

2. Tamasheq

Introduction: As an SIL team wanted to work among the Kel-Tamasheqs in the near future, we set ourselves the goal of clarifying the situation of mutual intelligibility between the Tamasheq varieties of the Tamasheq population around Gao. A secondary goal was to establish the viability of Gao as a workplace for this team.

Results: While the surveys mention two Tamasheq varieties (Kidal, 13, and Gourma-Rharous, 4, with one we cannot locate), the responses regarding mutual intelligibility show clear unanimity. It is clear that the variety considered the most distant is that of Tahoua (in Niger): for 8 respondents, there would be little possible understanding with a Tamasheq from Tahoua, for 8, there would be none at all.

Ménaka: Responses regarding the Ménaka variety are more ambiguous: 7 mentioned no difficulties in mutual intelligibility, 8 could communicate but with some problems, and one person thought there would be no possible understanding.

Conclusions: It seems to us that there is no valid reason to choose a variety other than that of DNAFLA, namely Kidal, and that a translation into Kidal could be well understood by all Tamasheq speakers in Mali, except those from Ménaka. The latter could possibly benefit from the work already underway in Tahoua, which is generally understood by the Tawellemmet of Ménaka.

3. Songoy

Introduction: DNAFLA, having chosen the Gao variety as 'official Songoy', maintains a functional literacy program position in Gao. There are several written documents in this variety: a reading and writing primer, a math book, 7 brochures on various subjects (hygiene, agriculture, livestock, etc.).

Results - Mutual intelligibility: The different Songoy varieties of Djenné, Timbuktu, Tillabéry and Niamey do not seem to cause too many difficulties in mutual intelligibility. It is different for the Hombori variety: it is not understood at all by 4 speakers, and the great majority of others (11) attest to considerable comprehension difficulties.

Literacy: When faced with the choice of learning to read and write in their own language or in another African language, the great majority (15/20) chose Songoy. The second choice for a Songoy literacy variety would be Timbuktu (9 people), or even Hombori (5).

Conclusions: Knowing that DNAFLA has chosen the Gao variety, that it has already produced literature in this variety, and given the results of our survey, we see no reason to go against the choice of the Malian administration. Gao would be somewhat of a central point for speakers from Timbuktu and the Niger varieties.

4. Dausahaq (Tadaksahak)

Background: According to our survey plans for Mali, the areas of Dausahaq that remain to be clarified are those of bilingualism and language unity. The first question is to determine whether literature in Songoy or Tamasheq would meet the needs of Dausahaq speakers, and if not, whether Dausahaq would require one or more literatures.

Linguistic situation: Dausahaq speakers live among the Tamasheqs, around Ménaka in the Ménaka and Ansongo districts. The two groups are generally considered to be part of the same society, but up to 40% have Dausahaq as their first language. Previously, the Dausahaqs were vassals of the Tamasheqs, and the latter still hold a certain contempt for them today.

Cognate words: A comparative table shows that Dausahaq is a distinct language from Songoy and Tamasheq. Four Dausahaq varieties are compared with three Songoy dialects and with the Tamasheq of one of these four villages.

Trip to Gao, Feb. 92: Our main interlocutor indicated two dialects, one spoken around Telataye, northwest of Ménaka, and the other around Anderamboukane, on the Niger border, to the southeast. The degree of mutual intelligibility would be very high. He also claimed that the domination of the Tamasheqs is a recent phenomenon, and that there is no common ancestor for the two peoples: thus the Dausahaqs feel separate.

We were struck during this discussion by their pride in their language. We therefore propose to continue research on this language as much as possible in order to find answers to the remaining questions, and to leave open the possibility of future SIL involvement.

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