Tumzabt

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A language of Algeria

ISO 639-3
mzb
Alternate Names
Ghardaia, Mozabite, Mzab, Mzabi
Population

150,000 (Moseley 2007). Women are monolingual.

Location

Mzab region south of Algiers. 7 oases, Ghardaia is principal one.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla
Dialects

Only minor dialect variations. Related to Tagargrent [oua] and Temacine Tamazight [tjo].

Language Use

Vigorous. Some also use Arabic [arq], French [fra], or Spanish [spa].

Language Development
Poetry. Dictionary.
Writing
Arabic script. Latin script. Tifinagh (Berber) script.
Other Comments

Strong cultural vitality. Tumzabt villages are interspersed among Arabic-speaking villages. Muslim (Ibadi).