Maldivian

Print

A language of Maldives

ISO 639-3
div
Alternate Names
Dhivehi, Divehi, Divehi Bas, Divehli, Mali, Malikh, Malki
Population

331,000 in Maldives (2012). Population total all countries: 340,500.

Location

Widespread. Also in India.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2008, Constitution, Article 11).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Dialects

Addu, Fuvah Mulaku, Huvadu, Malé, Maliku Bas. Southern dialects mutually intelligible but not with Male’. Southerners understand Male’ by acquired intelligibility. Users of Male’ cannot understand the others.

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. English [eng] is widespread. Also use Arabic varieties, Urdu [urd] or Hindi [hin].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 94%. Literacy rate is for those 6 years and older. English is educational medium of instruction in all government schools. Fully developed. Bible portions.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maldivian
Writing
Thaana script.
Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All