Kassonke language

Kassonke
Western Maninka
Xaasongaxango
Native toMali
EthnicityKassonke, Malinke
Native speakers
2.5 million (2009–2022)[1]
Niger–Congo ?
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Mali
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
kao – Kassonke
mlq – Western Malinke (Malinka)
Glottologxaas1235  Xaasongaxango
west2500  Western Maninkakan

The Kassonke (Khassonké) language, Xaasongaxango (Xasonga), or Western Maninka (Malinke), is a Manding language spoken by the Khassonké and Malinke of western Mali and by the Malinke of eastern Senegal. Kassonke is an official language in Mali. Western and Eastern Maninka are 90% mutually intelligible, though distinct from the Mandinka (Malinke) of southern Senegal, which is a national language there.

  1. ^ Kassonke at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
    Western Malinke (Malinka) at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon