Lele language (Guinea)

The Lele language is a Mande language spoken in Guinea, specifically in the Kankan region. It is part of the Southwestern Mande group. Accurate speaker numbers are difficult to obtain, but estimates suggest a relatively small community. The language is primarily spoken, with limited written resources available. Documentation efforts are ongoing to preserve and promote the language. Lele is related to other Mande languages in the area, exhibiting similarities in phonology and grammar, but also possessing distinct features that characterize it as a separate language. Linguistic research on Lele is limited, contributing to its relative obscurity within the broader Mande language family.