The Dioula language is a widely spoken language in West Africa, particularly in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. It belongs to the Mandé language family and serves as a lingua franca for trade and communication among various ethnic groups in the region. Dioula is primarily used in everyday conversation and commerce, making it an essential tool for social interaction. The language has several dialects and is often written in the Latin script, although it can also be represented in Arabic script due to historical influences from Islam.