Arabic, Libyan Spoken

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A language of Libya

ISO 639-3
ayl
Alternate Names
Libyan Vernacular Arabic, Sulaimitian Arabic, Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic
Population

4,000,000 in Libya (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 4,320,500.

Location

Especially north half. Also in Egypt (Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic), Niger.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Dialects

Eastern Libyan Arabic, Southern Libyan Arabic, Tripolitanian Arabic. In the west it is similar to Bedouin Arabic of southern Tunisia [aeb].

Typology

VSO

Language Use

Language not considered proper for official occasions, but at university, lecturers use it alongside Standard Arabic [arb]. Daily life. All ages.

Language Development
Taught in primary and secondary schools. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. TV. Videos. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Arabic, Libyan Spoken
Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).

Also spoken in:

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