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Wolof

Wolof is a member of the West Atlantic group of languages and was originally only spoken in the Senegambia area. However, following extensive cross-immigration between Senegal and Mauritania, the language has gained additional speakers. Additionally, the traditional Bana-Bana trade between Senegal and Mali has spurred a notable increase of Wolof speakers within the Malian population.

Spoken by more than ninety percent of Senegal's population, Wolof is Senegal's first national language among six others. This dominance is a result of the Wolof community's closer proximity to the colonial administration, which was mostly settled in big cities, in relation to other communities. Thus, it was a necessity for other ethnic groups to speak Wolof after migrating to towns such as Dakar, where Wolof is the primary language of communication.

Today, the number of Wolof speakers in West Africa is estimated at eight million. Previously, like most African languages, Wolof was first essentially oral. In the past, Senegalese scholars of Arabic used the Arabic alphabet in attempt to provide Wolof a written status. It was only in 1975 that the Senegalese administration adopted the Latin alphabet to write Wolof.

 

Source: African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania

Faculty:
Current Course Offerings:

Term A = Spring

Term B = Summer

Term C = Fall


Course Title Term Time
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2020C CANCELED
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2020C CANCELED
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2020A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR: INTRM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2020A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2020A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR: INTRM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2020A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2020A CANCELED
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR: INTRM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2020A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2019A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2019A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2019A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2018C MW 0600PM-0800PM
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2018C MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2018C TBA TBA-
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2018C MW 0600PM-0800PM
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2018C MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2018A CANCELED
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2018A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2018A CANCELED
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2018A CANCELED
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2018A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2018A CANCELED
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2018A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2017C CANCELED
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2017C MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2017C CANCELED
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2017C CANCELED
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2017C MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2017A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2017A CANCELED
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2017A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2017A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2017A CANCELED
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2017A MW 0500PM-0630PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2016C CANCELED
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2016C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2016C CANCELED
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2016C CANCELED
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2016C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2016A CANCELED
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2016A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2016A M 0500PM-0700PM
F 0530PM-0730PM
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2016A CANCELED
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2016A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2016A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2015C CANCELED
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2015C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2015C TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2015C CANCELED
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2015C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2015A F 0500PM-0700PM
S 1030AM-1200PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2015A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2015A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2015A F 0500PM-0700PM
S 1030AM-1200PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2015A TR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2015A F 0500PM-0700PM
S 1030AM-1200PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2014C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2014C TBA TBA-
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2014C CANCELED
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2014C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2014C TBA TBA-
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2014A CANCELED
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2014A MR 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2014A TBA TBA-
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2014A CANCELED
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2014A MR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2014A TBA TBA-
AFST 597-682 AFST597 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INT II 2014A MR 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2013C CANCELED
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - AFR LANG TUTOR: INTERM I: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER I 2013C T 0500PM-0700PM
R 0600PM-0800PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2013C TBA TBA-
AFST 594-682 AFST594 - WOLOF - AFR LANG ELEM I 2013C CANCELED
AFST 596-682 AFST596 - WOLOF - AFR LANG INTER I 2013C T 0500PM-0700PM
R 0600PM-0800PM
AFRC 491-682 AFRC491 - AFRC LANG TUTOR: ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFRC 493-682 AFRC493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2013A TR 0200PM-0400PM
AFRC 495-682 AFRC495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2013A TBA TBA-
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFR LANG TUTOR:ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2013A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2013A TR 0200PM-0400PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - AFR LANG TUTOR: ADV II: WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2013A TBA TBA-
AFST 490-682 AFST490 - AFR LANG TUTORIAL:ELEM I: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM I 2012C MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 492-682 AFST492 - AFR LANG TUTOR: INTERM I: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER I 2012C TR 0400PM-0600PM
AFST 494-682 AFST494 - WOLOF-AFR LANG ADV I 2012C TBA TBA-
AFST 491-682 AFST491 - AFR LANG TUTOR:ELEM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG ELEM II 2012A MW 0500PM-0700PM
AFST 493-682 AFST493 - AFR LANG TUTOR:INTERM II: WOLOF-AFR LANG INTER II 2012A TR 0400PM-0600PM
AFST 495-682 AFST495 - WOLOF - AFR LANG ADV II 2012A TBA TBA-