Dendi language

Dendi
Dandawa
Native toBenin, Niger, Nigeria
RegionWest Africa
Native speakers
440,000 (2000-2021)[1]
Latin
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Language codes
ISO 639-3ddn
Glottologdend1243
Location of Songhay languages[2]

Northwest Songhay:

  Korandje
  Koyra Chiini
  Tadaksahak
  Tasawaq
  Tagdal

Eastern Songhay:

  Tondi Songway Kiini
  Humburi Senni
  Koyraboro Senni
  Zarma language
  Songhoyboro Ciine
  Dendi

Dendi is a Songhay language used as a trade language across northern Benin (along the Niger River. It forms a dialect cluster with Zarma and Koyraboro Senni but it is heavily influenced by Bariba.

Dendi has been described as a four-tone language.[3]

  1. ^ Dendi at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ This map is based on classification from Glottolog and data from Ethnologue.
  3. ^ Joe Salmons, Accentual change and language contact: Comparative survey and a case study of early Northern Europe