The Harmonization of Malian Languages: Between National and Regional Integration

The language situation in the Republic of Mali is described, listing the various languages used as means of communication. The multilingual composition consisting of bilingual/diglossic schemes of binary pairs (eg, Bamanan-French, Bamanan-regional dialect) is outlined & Malian linguistic policy is examined. Graphemization (providing a written code), standardization (the development of norms), & modernization (vocabulary extension) are the three major areas of work that a language requires before it can be become a viable vehicle of communication & instruction. These are illustrated with the Mandingo-Peul (MAPE) project launched in 1976. The complex ecolinguistic & geolinguistic situation of Mali is noted as the country strives to harmonize the supraregional languages it shares with neighboring countries & its national dialects. 1 Table, 9 References. Z. Dubiel