Tamasheq

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A language of Mali

ISO 639-3
taq
Alternate Names
Kidal, Kidal Tamasheq, Tamashekin, Timbuktu, Tomacheck, “Tuareg”
Population

250,000 in Mali (1991). Population total all countries: 281,200.

Location

Widespread in northeast, Timbuktu, Kidal, and Gao regions. Also in Algeria (Kidal Tamasheq), Burkina Faso (Kidal Tamasheq).

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (1982, Decree No. 159 of 19 July, Article 1).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Southern
Dialects

Tadhaq (Kidal), Timbuktu (Tanaslamt, Tombouctou). May be 2 separate languages.

Language Development
The government is actively promoting the language through adult literacy classes. Taught in primary schools. New media. NT: 2003.
Writing
Latin script. Tifinagh (Berber) script.
Other Comments

The Bellah were formerly under the Tamasheq economically. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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