This study is part of a larger unpublished work. The data collection
is based on the Labovian sociolinguistic interview: 200 randomly
selected Wolof speakers were interviewed and recorded for 20 minutes in
Senegal. They were divided into two groups: 100 subjects over 50 years
old and 100 subjects between 20 and 30 years old. Each group comprised
50 males and 50 females. The number of loanwords from Arabic, French,
and English in subjects' vernacular was statistically analyzed
using the Wilcoxon (rank sums) test across three registers (cultural,
political, and religious), age groups, and gender. The study argues
that loanwords in Wolof reflect the social groups in Senegal and the
prestige of lender-languages. First, the article discusses the
influence of foreign languages in Senegal. Second, it examines the
social status of loanwords from these languages. Third, it shows the
relationships between loanwords, registers, age group, and gender in
Senegal.