LANGUAGE and IDENTITY in FLUX: In SEARCH of BAÏNOUNK

Abstract

Linguists, sociolinguists, and anthropologists often operate with ethno- and linguonyms as if languages and ethnic groups were discrete objects with clear boundaries. On the ground, linguistic and cultural affiliations are often less clear-cut and complex. The present paper demonstrates the multifaceted nature of identity for Baïnounk, a cluster of related lects spoken in the Casamance area of Senegal. In analogy to the Joola in the 19th and 20th century, speakers of Baïnounk varieties have been forging a unified historical identity over the past thirty years and aim at reaching linguistic unification as well. The paper presents historical, linguistic, and 'ethnic' factors relevant for different aspects of Baïnounk identity and discusses the recent development of a Baïnounk activist movement as well as the first results of a sociolinguistic study on the linguistic profiles and attitudes to languages present in the environment conducted in two villages of the Baïnounk Gunyaamolo variety.