- ^ Kassonke at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
Western Malinke (Malinka) at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
| Kassonke | |
|---|---|
| Western Maninka | |
| Xaasongaxango | |
| Native to | Mali |
| Ethnicity | Kassonke, Malinke |
Native speakers | 2.5 million (2009–2022)[1] |
| Official status | |
Recognised minority language in | Mali |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:kao – Kassonkemlq – Western Malinke (Malinka) |
| Glottolog | xaas1235 Xaasongaxangowest2500 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.
