Samo language (Burkina)
Samo is a dialect cluster of Niger-Congo languages spoken in Burkina Faso. They are unclassified within Niger–Congo. They are also called the Samuic languages by Güldemann, who tentatively classifies them as part of the Gur languages.
Varieties
Intelligibility between Samo varieties is low. The following have been coded as separate languages:- Matya Samo, spoken in Kossi Province, Sourou Province
- Maya Samo, spoken in Sourou Province, Yatenga Province, and Zondoma Province
- Southern Samo, spoken in Nayala Province ; Sourou Province; Sanguie Province; Passore Province
Demographics
| Dialect | Region | Population | Population |
| Maka | Southern, surrounding Toma | 61,883 | 84,996 |
| Matya | Northwest, to the west and north of Tougan | 33,675 | 46,252 |
| Matya | Far Northwest | 9,942 | 13,655 |
| Maya | Northeast, surrounding Kiembara and Bangassogo | 38,393 | 52,732 |
| all | Total | 143,893 | 197,635 |
List of Samo villages organised by department and dialect:
| Dialect | Province | Department | Villages |
| Maka | Mouhoun | Tchériba | Bissandérou, Orobié, Youbou |
| Maka | Nayala | Gassan | Dieré, Djimbara, Gassan, Labara, Laré, Moara, Téri |
| Maka | Nayala | Gossina | Bosson, Boun, Gossina, Kalabo, Koayo, Le Koun, Madamao, Massako, Naboro, Nianonkoré, Nypon, Sui, Tandou, Tarba, Zebassé |
| Maka | Nayala | Kougny | Goin, Gougnan, Gouri, Kamba, Kibiri, Kougny, Niaré, Nimina, Sébéré, Tiouma |
| Maka | Nayala | Toma | Goa, Goussi, Koin, Kola, Konti, Niemé, Nyon, Pankélé, Samba, Sawa, Sien, Siepa, To, Toma, Yayo, Zouma |
| Maka | Nayala | Yaba | Biba, Bo, Bounou, Kéra, Kisson, La, Loguin, Sapala, Saran, Siena, Tiema, Tosson, Yaba |
| Matya | Sourou | Di | Benkadi, Poura |
| Matya | Sourou | Kassoum | Bangassi, Bao, Bassam, Bonro, Diele, Doussoula, Fialla, Fian, Fianra, Kankani, Kassoum, Koularé, Kourani, Mara-Grand, Mara-Petit, Ourkoum, P’Nare, Peni, Sorona, Soumara Boumba, Soumarani, Tianra, Tiao, Tombila, Toungourou, Wawara |
| Matya | Sourou | Lanfiéra | Guiedougou, Lanfiéra |
| Matya | Sourou | Tougan | Da, Dimboro, Diouroum, Dissi, Gonou, Gosson, Kassan, Kawara, Kouy, Nassan, Tougan, Tourgare, Zinzin |
| Matya? | Sourou | Toéni | Dagale, Domoni, Dounkou, Gome, Gon, Gorguéré, Kware-Manguel, Kware-Toksel, Louta, Toéni |
| Maya | Sourou | Gomboro | Ganagoulo, Gomboro, Konga, Sia |
| Maya | Sourou | Kiembara | Bangassogo, Gan, Goueré, Gouyalle, Kiembara, Ouelle |
| Maya | Sourou | Lankoué | Lankoué Samo, Rassouli, Tourouba |
| Maya | Sourou | Toéni | Sanan, Sanga, Semé |
| Maya | Sourou | Tougan | Bonou, Bouare, Boussoum, Daka, Guimou, Niankore, Touare, Yéguéré |
Sample vocabulary
Sample basic vocabulary of Samo dialects:| Village | Dialect | eye | ear | nose | tooth | tongue | mouth | blood | bone | water | tree | eat |
| Toma | Maka | jǐ | to | ɲɛ̃ | sɔ | lɛwɔ | lɛ | mɑ̀ | wɛ | mú | dɑ | ɑ̀mɑ́mbíː |
| Kouy | Matya | jɛrːɛ | toro | jiːni | sɔ̃ːnɛ | nɛnɛ | lɛ | mɪjɑ̀ | jɛrɛ | mú | dɑ́ | ɑnebɑ́rè |
| Kassoum | Matya | ɲɑ́n | toro | ɲú | sɔ̃n | nɛnɛ | lɛ | mɪjɑ̀ | jɛr | mũ | dɑ́ | ɑ̀nèbɛrɛ |
| Toéni | Matya | jɛ | toro | jí | sɛ | nɛn | li | mɑ̌ː | wɑ | mũ | jidɑ̀ | mɑːbɛ̀rɛ̀ |
| Bounou | Maya | ɲoːnì; jɛrɛ | toro | ɲinijɛrɛ | so | leːnè | lɛ | mɑ̌ | jɑre | mu | dɑ | ɑfɑ́bjèrè |
| Kiembara | Maya | ɲɛ́nɛ̀nɛ̀ | tɔrɔ | ɲìní | so | lɛ́lɑ̀ːnɑ̀ | lɛ́ | mɑ̌ː | jɛ̀rɛ̀ | mṹ | dɑ́ | ɑ̀gɑ̀bɛ̀rɛ̀ |
| Bangassogo | Maya | jere | toro | jindì | so | lelene | le | ɲɑ̀mɑ | wɛrɛ | mú | jídɑ | ɑbɑ́brì |
| Lankoué | Maya | jɛrɛ | toro | sinde | sɔ̀ | lemìnì | lɛ | jõ̀mɑ | wɛrɛ | mú | jidɑ̀ | ɑbɑbɛ̀rɛ̀ |