Arabic, Chadian Spoken

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A language of Chad

ISO 639-3
shu
Alternate Names
Arabe Choa, Chad Arabic, Chadian Arabic, Chowa, L’arabe du Tchad, Shua, Shua Arabic, Shuwa Arabic, Suwa
Population

896,100 in Chad (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,139,100.

Location

Salamat, Ouaddaï, and Wadi Fira regions, Batha Region center and west, much of Chari-Baguirmi Region; Mayo-Kebbi; north Tandjilé Region; Guéra Region. Also in Cameroon (Shuwa Arabic), Central African Republic (Shuwa Arabic), Niger (Shuwa Arabic), Nigeria (Shuwa Arabic).

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

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

Dialects depend on whether their speakers are sedentary or nomads, rural or urban, and on migration routes. A pidginized variety, commonly called, Bongor Arabic, is spoken as L2 by many in the Mayo-Kebbi and other parts of south Chad.

Language Use

Positive attitudes.

Language Development
Primary school program. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1967–1991.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Arabic, Chadian Spoken
Writing
Arabic script. Latin script.
Other Comments

Shuwa Arabic is the name used in other countries for the dialect near Lake Chad. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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