{{Short description|Niger–Congo language spoken in Senegal and Gambia}} {{Infobox language | name = Serer | nativename = {{lang|srr|Seereer}} {{lang|srr|سࣹيرࣹيرْ}} | states = Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania | speakers = {{sigfig|1.870300|2}} million | date = 2021–2022 | ref = e27 | familycolor = Niger-Congo | fam2 = Atlantic–Congo | fam3 = West Atlantic | fam4 = Senegambian | script = Arabic <br/>Latin | agency = CLAD (Centre de linguistique appliquée de Dakar) | stand1 = Seereer-Siin | iso2 = srr | iso3 = srr | glotto = sere1260 | glottorefname = Sereer | notice = IPA | ethnicity = Serer }}
'''Serer''', often broken into differing regional dialects such as '''Serer-Sine''' and '''Serer-Saloum''', is a language of the Senegambian branch of the Niger–Congo family spoken by 1.2 million people in Senegal and 30,000 in the Gambia as of 2009.<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=GM Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International, Ethnologue.com. Figures for (2006) The Gambia only.]</ref> It is the principal language of the Serer people, and was the language of the early modern kingdoms of Sine, Saloum, and Baol. Serer is primarily written in the Latin alphabet.
==Classification== Serer is one of the Senegambian languages, which are characterized by consonant mutation. The traditional classification of Atlantic languages is that of Sapir (1971), which found that Serer was closest to Fulani.<ref>Sapir, David, 1971. "West Atlantic: an inventory of the languages, their noun-class systems and consonant alternation". In Sebeok, ed, ''Current trends in linguistics,'' 7: ''linguistics in sub-Saharan Africa''. Mouton, 45–112</ref> However, a widely cited misreading of the data by Wilson (1989) inadvertently exchanged Serer for Wolof. Dialects of Serer are Serer Sine (the prestige dialect), Segum, Fadyut-Palmerin, Dyegueme (Gyegem), and Niominka. They are mutually intelligible except for the Sereer spoken in some of the areas surrounding the city of Thiès.
Not all Serer people speak Serer. About 200,000 speak Cangin languages. Because the speakers are ethnically Serer, they are commonly thought to be Serer dialects. However, they are not closely related, and Serer is significantly closer to Fulani (also called Pulbe, Pulaar, or Fulbe) than it is to Cangin.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
==Phonology==
===Consonants=== The voiceless implosives are highly unusual sounds.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Mc Laughlin|2005|p=203}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center ! colspan="2" | !Labial !Alveolar !Palatal !Velar !Uvular !Glottal |- ! colspan="2" |Nasal |{{IPAlink|m}} |{{IPAlink|n}} |{{IPAlink|ɲ}} |{{IPAlink|ŋ}} | | |- ! rowspan="3" |Stop !<small>voiceless</small> |{{IPAlink|p}} |{{IPAlink|t}} |{{IPAlink|c}} |{{IPAlink|k}} |{{IPAlink|q}} |{{IPAlink|ʔ}} |- !<small>voiced</small> |{{IPAlink|b}} |{{IPAlink|d}} |{{IPAlink|ɟ}} |{{IPAlink|ɡ}} | | |- !<small>prenasal</small> |{{IPAlink|ᵐb}} |{{IPAlink|ⁿd}} |{{IPAlink|ᶮɟ}} |{{IPAlink|ᵑɡ}} |{{IPAlink|ᶰɢ}} | |- ! rowspan="2" |Implosive !<small>voiceless</small> |{{IPAlink|ɓ̥}} |{{IPAlink|ɗ̥}} |{{IPAlink|ʄ̊}} | | | |- !<small>voiced</small> |{{IPAlink|ɓ}} |{{IPAlink|ɗ}} |{{IPAlink|ʄ}} | | | |- ! colspan="2" |Flap | |{{IPAlink|ɾ}} | | | | |- ! colspan="2" |Fricative |{{IPAlink|f}} |{{IPAlink|s}} | |{{IPAlink|x}} | |{{IPAlink|h}} |- ! colspan="2" |Approximant | |{{IPAlink|l}} |{{IPAlink|j}} |{{IPAlink|w}} | |{{IPAlink|ˀj}} |- |}
=== Vowels === {| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center ! ! Front ! Back |- ! Close | {{IPAlink|i}} {{IPAlink|iː}} | {{IPAlink|u}} {{IPAlink|uː}} |- ! Mid | {{IPAlink|e}} {{IPAlink|eː}} | {{IPAlink|o}} {{IPAlink|oː}} |- ! Open | colspan="2" | {{IPAlink|a}} {{IPAlink|aː}} |}
==Writing system== Serer today is primarily written in Latin alphabet. The Latin alphabet has been standardized in various government decrees, the latest of which was issued in 2005.<ref>Gouvernement du Sénégal, ''Décret N° 2005-990 du 21 octobre 2005 Relatif à l'orthographe et la séparation des mots en seereer''[http://www.jo.gouv.sn/spip.php?article4800] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220330022313/http://www.jo.gouv.sn/spip.php?article4800 archive]</ref>
However, historically, similar to Wolof language, its first writing system was the adaption of the Arabic Script.{{dubious|date=April 2024}} The Arabic script is used today as well, albeit in a smaller scale, and only mostly limited to Islamic school teachers and students. The Arabic-based script of Serer was set by the government as well, between 1985 and 1990, although never adopted by a decree, as the effort by the Senegalese ministry of education was to be part of a multi-national standardization effort.<ref name=proposal>{{cite web |first1=Lorna A |last1=Priest |first2=Martin |last2=Hosken |author3=SIL International |author3-link=SIL International |title=''Proposal to add Arabic script characters for African and Asian languages'' |date=12 August 2010 |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2010/10288r-arabic-proposal.pdf |pages=13–18, 34–37}}</ref> The script is referred to as "Serer Ajami script" (In Serer: '''ajami seereer''', {{script/Arabic|اَجَمِ سࣹيرࣹيرْ}}).
===Serer Latin alphabet===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+ |- | colspan="33" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Serer Latin alphabet''' |- | A || B || Ɓ || C || Ƈ | D || Ɗ || E || F || G | H || I || J || K || L | M || N || Ñ || Ŋ || O | P || Ƥ || Q || R || S | T || Ƭ || U || W || X | Y || Ƴ || rowspan=2| ʼ |- | a || b || ɓ || c || ƈ | d || ɗ || e || f || g | h || i || j || k || l | m || n || ñ || ŋ || o | p || ƥ || q || r || s | t || ƭ || u || w || x | y || ƴ |- | colspan="33" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Serer Ajami Script Equivalent''' |- | اَ / ◌َ || ب || ࢠ || ݖ || ࢢ || د || ط || اࣹ / ◌ࣹ | ف || گ || ه || اِ / ◌ِ || ج ||ک || ل | م || ن || ݧ || ݝ|| اࣷ / ◌ࣷ || ݒ || ݕ || ق || ر || س | ت || ࢣ || اُ / ◌ُ || و || خ ||ي || ڃ || ع |- | colspan="33" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''IPA value''' |- | {{IPA link|a}} || {{IPA link|b}} || {{IPA link|ɓ}} || {{IPA link|c}} || {{IPA link|ʄ̊}} | {{IPA link|d}} || {{IPA link|ɗ}} || {{IPA link|e}} || {{IPA link|f}} || {{IPA link|ɡ}} | {{IPA link|h}} || {{IPA link|i}} || {{IPA link|ɟ}} || {{IPA link|k}} || {{IPA link|l}} | {{IPA link|m}} || {{IPA link|n}} || {{IPA link|ɲ}} || {{IPA link|ŋ}} || {{IPA link|o}} | {{IPA link|p}} || {{IPA link|ɓ̥}} || {{IPA link|q}} || {{IPA link|r}} || {{IPA link|s}} | {{IPA link|t}} || {{IPA link|ɗ̥}} || {{IPA link|u}} || {{IPA link|w}} || {{IPA link|x}} | {{IPA link|j}} || {{IPA link|ˀj}} || {{IPA link|ʔ}} |}
The consonant {{IPA|/ʄ/}} does not have a distinct letter, and it is not clear how it is written.
===Serer Ajami script=== {{Original research section|date=April 2024}} There are 29 letters in Serer Ajami script. The list does not include consonants that are used exclusively in Arabic loanwords and do not occur in Serer words, nor does it include digraphs used for showing prenasalized consonants.<ref name=ajamiseereer>Andaam a ajami seereer - Ndax o jang too bind a seereer na pindooƭ a araab / Alphabétisation - Cours pour apprendre à lire et à écrire le sérère en caractères arabes (5 July, 2014) [http://paul-timothy.net/pages/ajamisenegal/syllabaire_ajami_serere_harmattan_05-jul-2014.pdf Link] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230518202807/http://paul-timothy.net/pages/ajamisenegal/syllabaire_ajami_serere_harmattan_05-jul-2014.pdf Archive])</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+Serer Letters<ref name=proposal/><ref name=ajamiseereer/> ! rowspan="2" |Name ! colspan="4" |Forms ! rowspan="2" |Sound represented ! rowspan="2" |Latin equivalent ! colspan="2" |Example ! rowspan="2" |Notes |- !Isolated !Final !Medial !Initial !Serer !Latin |- |{{Transliteration|srr|alif}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|اَلِف}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ا}}</span> |colspan=2|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـا}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ا}}</span> |{{IPAslink|a}} | - / a |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اُوݒْ}}</span><Br><span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اَرَابْ}}</span> | oop<Br>araab | *The ''alif'' has two functions: first, to be the carrier of vowel diacritic as word initial, and second to indicate long vowel ''"-aa"''. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|beh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|بࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ب}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـب}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـبـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|بـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|b}} | b |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|بَنَانَ}}</span> | banaana | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|peh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ݒࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݒ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݒ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݒـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݒـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|p}} | p |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|فَاݒْ}}</span> | faap | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0752 U+0752] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ɓeh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ࢠࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢠ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢠ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢠـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢠـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ɓ}} | ɓ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢠَلِگْ}}</span> | ɓalig | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+08A0 U+08A0] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ƥeh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ݕࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݕ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݕ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݕـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݕـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ƥ}} | ƥ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݕِيݕْ}}</span> | ƥiiɓ | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+0755 U+0755] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|teh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|تࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ت}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـت}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـتـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|تـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|t}} | t |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݧࣷوتْ}}</span> | ñoot | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ceh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ݖࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݖ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݖ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݖـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݖـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|c}} | c |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݖَاݖِ}}</span> | caaci | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0756 U+0756] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|jeem}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|جࣹيمْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ج}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـج}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـجـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|جـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|dʒ}} | j |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|جُعࣷوخْ}}</span> | juoox | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ƴeh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ڃࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڃ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـڃ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـڃـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڃـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ˀj}} | ƴ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڃࣹیوْ}}</span> | ƴeew | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0683 U+0683] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ƈeh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ࢢࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢢ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢢ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢢـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢢـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ʄ}} | ƈ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢢَارْ}}</span> | ƈaar | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+08A2 U+08A2] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|xah}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|خَهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|خ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـخ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـخـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|خـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|x}} | x |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|خَارِيتْ}}</span> | xaariit | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|dal}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|دَلْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|د}}</span> |colspan=2|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـد}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|د}}</span> |{{IPAblink|d}} | d |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|دࣷونَا}}</span> | doonaa | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|reh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|رࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ر}}</span> |colspan=2|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـر}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ر}}</span> |{{IPAblink|r}} | r |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|رِيتِ}}</span> | riiti | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|seen}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|سࣹينْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|س}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـس}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـسـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|سـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|s}} | s |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|سُݒِتْ}}</span> | supit | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ɗaah}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|طَاهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ط}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـط}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـطـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|طـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ɗ}} | ɗ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|طِيسْ}}</span> | ɗiis | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ƭaah}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ࢣَاهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢣ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢣ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـࢣـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ࢣـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ɗ̥}} | ƭ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|وَاࢣْ}}</span> | waaƭ | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+08A3 U+08A3] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ayn}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|عَيْنْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ع}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـع}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـعـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|عـ}}</span> | - / {{IPAblink|ʔ}} | - / ʼ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اِسْرَعࣹلْ}}</span> | Israel | * Used for writing vowel sequences, and mid-word syllables that start with vowels. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ŋoon}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ݝࣷونْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݝ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݝ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݝـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݝـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ŋ}} | ŋ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݝَتْ}}</span> | ŋat | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+075D U+075D] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|feh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|فࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ف}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـف}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـفـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|فـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ɸ}} | f |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|فࣷوفِ}}</span> | foofi | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|qaf}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|قَفْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ق}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـق}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـقـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|قـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|q}} | q |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اَ قࣷوقْ اَلࣹ}}</span> | a qooq ale | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|kaf}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|کَفْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ک}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـک}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـکـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|کـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|k}} | k |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اَکࣷيْ}}</span> | akoy | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|geh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|گࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|گ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـگ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـگـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|گـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|g}} | g |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|جࣷگࣷݧْ}}</span> | jogoñ | * Character not found in Arabic. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|lam}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|لَمْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ل}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـل}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـلـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|لـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|l}} | l |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|لَکَسْ}}</span> | lakas | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|meem}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|مࣹيمْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|م}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـم}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـمـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|مـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|m}} | m |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مُکَندࣷونگّ}}</span><Br><span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مبَاخْ}}</span> | mukandoong<br>mbaax | * Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|noon}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|نࣷونْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ن}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـن}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|n}} | n |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نࣷمْتُ}}</span><br><span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نجُعَخْ}}</span> | nomtu<br>njuʼax | * Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|ñoon}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|ݧࣷونْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݧ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݧ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـݧـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݧـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ɲ}} | ñ |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|رࣵݧِّ}}</span> | ràññi | * Character not found in Arabic. * Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0767 U+0767] |- |{{Transliteration|srr|waw}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|وَوْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|و}}</span> |colspan=2|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـو}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|و}}</span> |{{IPAblink|w}} | w |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|وَتْ}}</span><br><span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݒِندࣷوࢣْ}}</span> | wat<br>pindooƭ | *The ''waw'' has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /w/, and second to indicate long vowels ''"-oo" and "uu"''. |- |{{Transliteration|srr|heh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|هࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ه}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـه}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـهـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|هـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|h}} | h |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|اَبْرَهَمْ}}</span> | abraham | |- |{{Transliteration|srr|yeh}}<br>{{Script/Arabic|يࣹهْ}} |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ي}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـي}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـيـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|يـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|j}} | y |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|يِݒُ}}</span><br><span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|رِيتِ}}</span> | yipu<br>riiti | *The ''yeh'' has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /j/, and second to indicate long vowels ''"-ee" and "ii"''. |}
Prenasalized consonants are written as a digraph (combination of two consonants). While historically, there were single letter alternatives, these letters are no longer used. Prenasalized consonants are constructed using ''meem'' (م) or ''noon'' (ن) in combination with other consonants. The letter ''meem'' (م) appears in pairs with ''beh'' (ب), whereas the letter ''noon'' (ن) appears in pairs with ''dal'' (د), ''jeem'' (ج), ''qaf'' (ق), and ''geh'' (گ).
Prenasalized consonants cannot take the zero-vowel diacritic ''sukun'' (◌ْ). If they are at the end of the word and have no vowels, they will take the gemination diacritic ''shadda'' (◌ّ).
In prenasalized consonants, the first letter of the digraph, namely either ''meem'' (م) or ''noon'' (ن), is written with no diacritic. This is what distinguishes them from consonant sequences.
Some Serer-speaking authors treat these digraphs as their own independent letters.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+Serer Ajami prenasalized Consonant Digraphs<ref name=ajamiseereer/> ! colspan="4" |Forms ! rowspan="2" |Sound represented ! rowspan="2" |Latin equivalent ! colspan="2" |Example ! rowspan="2" |Notes |- !Isolated !Final !Medial !Initial !Wolofal !Latin |- |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|مب}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـمبّ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـمبـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|مبـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ᵐb}} | mb |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مبُودْ}}</span> | mbuud | |- |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ند}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـندّ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـند}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ند}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ⁿd}} | nd |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ندَبِدْ}}</span> | ndabid | |- |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نج}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنجّ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنجـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نجـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ᶮɟ}} | nj |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نجࣹکْ}}</span> | njek | |- |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نق}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنقّ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنقـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نقـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ⁿq}} | nq |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نقࣹيخْ}}</span> | nqeex | |- |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نگ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنگّ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ـنگـ}}</span> |<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نگـ}}</span> |{{IPAblink|ᵑɡ}} | ng |<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نگُلࣷوکْ}}</span> | ngulook | * Important to note that it is different from <span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݝ}}</span> |}
Serer Ajami script, like its parent system, the Arabic script, and like other Ajami scripts, is an abjad. This means that only consonants are represented with letters. Vowels are shown with diacritics. As a matter of fact, writing of diacritics, including zero-vowel (sukun) diacritic as per the orthographic are mandatory.
Arabic has 3 vowels, and thus 3 vowel diacritics. But in Serer, there are 5 vowels, and as all vowels are shown with diacritics in Serer. This means that on top of the 3 original diacritics, 2 additional ones have been created.
Vowels in Wolof are also distinguished by length, short and long. Short vowels are only shown with a diacritic. Similar to Arabic, long vowels are indicated by writing ''alif'' (ا), ''waw'' (و), or ''yeh'' (ي). But unlike Arabic, this does not mean that the vowel diacritic can be dropped. It cannot, as there 5 vowels and not 3.<ref name=ajamiseereer/>
* For vowel "a" (◌َ), the vowel is lengthened (aa) with an ''alif'' (ا) * For vowels "e" or "i", the vowel is lengthened (ee, ii) with a ''yeh'' (ي). * For vowels "o" or "u", the vowel is lengthened (oo, uu) with a ''waw'' (و).
When vowels appear at the beginning of the word, an ''alif'' (ا) is used as the carrier of the vowel. If a long vowel is at the beginning of the word, an ''alif'', an ''alif'' (ا) is used as the carrier of the vowel, followed by either ''waw'' (و) or ''yeh'' (ي) as appropriate. The exception is when a word starts with the long vowel "Aa". Instead of two ''alif''s (اا) being used, an ''alif-maddah'' (آ) is used.<ref name=ajamiseereer/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+Vowel diacritics in Serer Ajami |- ! rowspan=2| Sukun<Br>(Zero-vowel) ! colspan=5| Short ! colspan=5| Long |- ! -a || -i || -u || -e || -o || -aa || -ii || -uu || -ee || -oo |-dir="rtl" | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ْ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌َ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣹ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣷ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌َا}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِيـ / ◌ِي}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُو}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣹيـ / ◌ࣹي}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣷو}}</span> |} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+Vowel at the beginning of word |- ! colspan=5| Short ! colspan=5| Long |- ! A || I || U || E || O || Aa || Ii || Uu || Ee || Oo |-dir="rtl" | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اَ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اِ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اُ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اࣹ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اࣷ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|آ}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اِيـ / اِي}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اُو}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اࣹيـ / اࣹي}}</span> | <span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|اࣷو}}</span> |}
==Greetings==
The following greetings and responses are spoken in most regions of Senegal that have Serer speakers.
* {{lang|srr|Nam fi'o?}} ('how are you doing?') * ''Mexe meen'' ('I am here') * ''Ta mbind na?'' ('how is the family' or more literally 'how is the house?') * ''Awa maa'' ('they are good' or more literally 'they are there')
Spatial awareness is very important in Sereer. For example, this exchange is only for when the household in question is not nearby. Certain grammatical changes would occur if the greetings were exchanged in a home that the greeter has just entered:
*''Ta mbind ne?'' ('how is the family/house [which is here]?') *''Awa meen'' ('they are good' or more literally 'they are here')
In Senegalese Sereer culture like many cultures in that region, greetings are very important. Sometimes, people will spend several minutes greeting each other.
==Sample text == Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Translation || Latin Script || Serer Ajami Script |- | All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. | {{lang|srr-Latn|Ween we naa ñoowaa na ’adna, den fot mbogow no ke war na ’oxu refna na den ’a jega ’o ngalaat ’umti yiif ’um, le mbarin o meƭtowtaa baa mbaag ’o ñoow den fot no fog.}} | dir="rtl"| <span style="font-size:120%;line-height:1.65;">{{Script/Arabic|{{lang|srr-Arab|وࣹينْ وࣹ نَا ݧُووَا نَ اَدْنَ، دࣹنْ فࣷتْ مبࣷگࣷوْ نࣷ کࣹ وُر نَ اࣷخُ رࣹفْنَ نَ دࣹنْ اَ جࣹگَ اࣷ نگَلَاتْ اُمْتِ يِيفْ اُمْ، لࣹ مبَرِنْ اࣷ مࣹࢣࣷوْتَا بَا مبَاگْ اࣷ ݧࣷووْ دࣹنْ فࣷتْ نࣷ فࣷگْ.}}}}</span> |}
== See also == * Cangin languages
==Notes== {{reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite journal |last=Fall |first=Papa Oumar |year=2013 |title=The ethnolinguistic classification of Seereer in question. |journal= In Africa: Challenges of Multilingualism, Ds Altmayer, Claus / Wolff, H. Ekkehard, Peter Lang, Frankfurt Am Main, Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford|pages=47–60}} * {{cite journal |last=McLaughlin |first=Fiona |year=1994 |title=Consonant mutation in Seereer-Siin |journal=Studies in African Languages |volume=23 |pages=279–313}} * {{cite journal |last=McLaughlin |first=Fiona |year=2000 |title=Consonant mutation and reduplication in Seereer-Siin |journal=Phonology |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=333–363 |doi=10.1017/S0952675701003955}} * {{Citation|last=Mc Laughlin|first=Fiona|year=2005|title=Voiceless implosives in Seereer-Siin|journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association|volume=35|issue=2|pages=201–214|doi=10.1017/S0025100305002215}} * {{cite book |last=Crétois |first=L. |year=1972 |title=Dictionnaire sereer-français (différents dialects) |location=Dakar |publisher=Centre de Linguistique Appliquée de Dakar|language=fr}} * {{cite book |last=Fal |first=A. |year=1980 |title=Les nominaux en sereer-siin: Parler de Jaxaaw |location=Dakar |publisher=Nouvelles Editions Africaines|language=fr}} * {{cite journal |last=Senghor |first=L. S. |year=1994 |title=L'harmonie vocalique en sérère (dialecte du Dyéguème) |journal=Journal de la Société des Linguistes |volume=14 |pages=17–23|language=fr}}
== External links == {{incubator|code=srr}} * [http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/sereer/guestwiki/index.php?title=Phonological_Inventory Sereer Grammar - Sereer wiki] * [http://www.jo.gouv.sn/spip.php?article4800 Decree No. 2005-990 of 21 October 2005 relating to the spelling and the separation of words in Serer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203161039/http://www.jo.gouv.sn/spip.php?article4800 |date=3 December 2019 }} via the website of the ''Journal officiel'' {{in lang|fr}}
{{Serer topics|state=collapsed}} {{Languages of the Gambia}} {{Languages of Senegal}} {{Atlantic languages}} {{Arabic script}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Serer language language Category:Languages of Senegal Category:Languages of the Gambia Category:Languages of Mauritania