Language Information by Source

Sociolinguistic survey report for the Tiéfo language

Carol Berthelette and John Berthelette. 2001. "Sociolinguistic Survey Report For the Tiéfo Language." 23. SIL International. Online: http://www.sil.org/silesr/2002/006/SILESR2002-006.pdf.

Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~1,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends

Speaker Number Trend 5

A small percentage of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing very rapidly.

5
Domains of Use

Domain Of Use 3

Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.

3
Transmission

Transmission 1

Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.

1

Speakers

Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
12,000-15,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"Most Tiéfo have abandoned their language in favor of Jula, presumably as a result of a perceived social advantage to be gained by using Jula. Along with abandoning their language, they have also abandoned their traditional beliefs and have converted to Islam. In Dramandougou Tiéfo, where villagers have held off the influence of Jula in favor of the Tiéfo language, the inhabitants have likewise resisted Islam in favor of their traditional, animistic religion. ... The Tiéfo seem to place a high value on attending school and learning French. ... Through a source in Banfora, we learned of the presence of at least 2 dialects."

Location and Context

Countries
Burkina Faso
Location Description

"The general Tiéfo territory lies to the south of Bobo-Dioulasso in the provinces of Comoé and Houet. There are Tiéfo villages located in the departments of Tiéfora and Sidéradougou in the Comoé province and in the departments of Bobo-Dioulasso, Péni, and Karankasso-Vigué in the Houet province. According to Kerstin Winkelmann, the following villages are ethnically Tiéfo: Dramandougou, Nyafogo, Koumandara, Dégué-Dégué, Derege, Laranfiera, Mousoubadougou, Yegere, Dabokeri, Noumouso, Tanga, Yanga, Kiefandougou, Dandougou, Kadio, Farajan, Sourkoutomo, Me, Matourkou, Damogan, Tien, and Kodala (Winkelmann 1996:165). All together, this area of about 20 small villages covers approximately 1,500 km2. The only known village where Tiéfo is presently spoken is Dramandougou Tiéfo, a village located in the department of Tiéfora in the province of Comoé. Winkelmann also notes that certain older people of Nyafogo and Noumoudara still know some of their language (Winkelmann 1996:166)."

Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Jula; French;
Number of Other Language Speakers:
Most
Domains of Other Languages:
None

Writing Systems

Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.

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