Fulanispeaking

Fulanispeaking refers to the use of Fulfulde, also known as Fula, Fulani, Pulaar, or Pular, by speakers across West Africa and the Sahel. The term is linguistic rather than exclusively ethnic, since Fulfulde is spoken by the Fulani (Fulɓe) as well as other communities. Fulfulde belongs to the Niger-Congo language family and exists in a broad dialect continuum that stretches across national borders.

Geographic distribution and dialects: The language is spoken across many countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Cameroon. It comprises numerous regional varieties, such as Western Fulfulde (Pulaar/Pulaar) and Maasina Fulfulde, Adamawa Fulfulde, and others. Dialects differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical features, but share core elements and are generally mutually intelligible to varying degrees.

Linguistic features and writing systems: Fulfulde has a complex verbal morphology and a noun-class system that reflects its Niger-Congo roots. Word order is typically subject–verb–object in many varieties, though patterns can vary by region. Writing uses both Latin and Ajami Arabic scripts; Latin script is common in education and modern media, while Ajami is employed in some traditional and religious contexts.

Sociolinguistic context: Fulanispeaking communities are often multilingual, using languages such as Hausa, French, English, and local languages alongside Fulfulde. The language is central to Fulani identity, trade networks, and social organization, with ongoing efforts to standardize terminology and promote literacy across dialects.