Maba

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A language of Chad

ISO 639-3
mde
Alternate Names
Borgu, Bura Mabang, Kana Mabang, Mabaa, Mabak, Mabang, Ouaddai, Ouaddaien, Wadai, Waddayen
Population

296,000 (2006 E. Zürcher), decreasing. Very few monolinguals.

Location

Ouaddaï region, Ouara and Djourf-al-Ahmar departments; Wadi Fira Region, Biltine department, Biltine subprefecture; most of Ouara department and villages south of Biltine.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Maban, Maba
Dialects

Kabartu, Kodroy, Kondongo, Maba. Lexical similarity: 73% with Karanga [kth], 63% with Marfa [mvu], 42% with Masalit [mls].

Typology

SOV

Language Use

All domains in the village; home only in the towns. All ages in the villages; mostly adults in towns. Mixed attitudes. The language is generally valued less than Arabic. Most also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu].

Language Development
Low motivation. Primary school program by gtz-Education. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maba
Writing
Arabic script. Latin script.
Other Comments

Ethnic groups: Uled Djemma (Aulad Djema, Awlad Djema). Muslim.