Languages of Algeria

[asp]   Dialects: It has influenced the deaf community in Oujda in northern Morocco.  Classification: Deaf sign language 
More information.

[aao] 100,000 in Algeria (1996). Population total all countries: 130,550. Morocco border along Atlas Mountains, northeast to Medea (south of Algiers), southeast to Righ Wadi, south as far as Plateau du Tademait; some in Tamanrasset town. Also in Egypt, Niger, United States. Alternate names: Saharan Arabic, Tamanghasset Arabic, Tamanrasset Arabic.  Dialects: Structurally distinct from other Arabic.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic 
More information.

[arq] 20,400,000 in Algeria (1996 Hunter). Population total all countries: 22,397,000. Also in Belgium, Egypt, France, Germany, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Alternate names: Algerian.  Dialects: Constantine, Algiers, Oran.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic 
More information.

[arb]   Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic 
More information.

[cnu] 76,300 (2007 U. Laval). Estimated Beni Menacer population is 61,000 (2007). 15,250 for Chenoui (U. Laval, 2007). Chenoui in Mount Chenoua area; Beni Menacer west and south of Mount Chenoua area. Alternate names: Chenoui.  Dialects: Beni Menacer (Tamenracit, tachelhit, Chleuh), Chenoui. Lexical similarity: 77% with Tachawit [shy], 76% with Kabyle [kab].  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern 
More information.

[fra] 111,000 in Algeria (1993). Mostly cities. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French 
More information.

[kab] 2,540,000 in Algeria (1995). Estimates by some sources are up to 6,000,000 in Algeria (1998). 49,000 in Belgium. Population total all countries: 3,126,000. Grande Kabylie Mt. range, west Kabylia. Lesser Kabyle in Aokas town area. Also in Belgium, France. Alternate names: Amazigh, Tamazight.  Dialects: Greater Kabyle, Lesser Kabyle (Tasahlit). Lesser Kabyle (Tasahlit) may be a separate language.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle 
More information.

[kcy]  Tabelbala oasis. Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Songhai 
More information.

[shy] 1,400,000 (1993). Aurès Mountains, south and southeast of Grand Kabylie. Alternate names: Chaouia, Chawi, Shawia, Shawiya, Tacawit.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Shawiya 
More information.

[shi]  South near Morocco border, Tabelbala area. Alternate names: Shilha, Southern Shilha, Tachilhit, Tashelhait, Tashelhayt, Tashelhit, Tasoussit.  Dialects: Susiua (Sus, Sousse).  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas 
More information.

[oua] 5,000 (1995). South of Constantine, near Mzab. Ouargla and Ngouça are main centers. Alternate names: Ouargla, Ouargli, Wargla.  Dialects: Ouedghir (Wadi), Temacin, Tariyit. Related to Tumzabt [mzb], Temacine Tamazight [tjo], Taznatit [grr]. Only moderate comprehension of Tumzabt. Tariyit dialect is spoken by the Haratine (former slaves of the Ouargli people).  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla 
More information.

[thv] 25,000 in Algeria (1987). Includes 20,000 Hoggar, 5,000 Ghat. Population total all countries: 62,000. South Hoggar (Ajjer) Mountain area, Hoggar, Tamanghasset area and south to Niger border. Ghat dialect in southeast, Ganet area and west. Also in Libya, Niger. Alternate names: Tamachek, Tamashekin, Tomachek, Touareg, Tourage, Tuareg.  Dialects: Hoggar (Ahaggaren, Ajjer, Tahaggart), Ghat (Ganet, Djanet).  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Northern 
More information.

[tzm]  West Atlas moutains area, adjacent valleys to Taza, Rabat area, south near Morocco border. Alternate names: Central Shilha, Middle Atlas Berber.  Dialects: South Oran.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas 
More information.

[tjo] 6,000 (1995). Temacine, Tamelhat, Ghomra, and Meggarin areas. Alternate names: Touggourt, Tougourt, Tugurt.  Dialects: Related to Tumzabt [mzb], Tagargrent [oua], Taznatit [grr]. Possibly a dialect of Tagargrent.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla 
More information.

[tia] 9,000 (1995). Tidikelt, Salah area, and Tit south. Dialects: Tidikelt, Tit.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Tidikelt 
More information.

[rif]  Along the coast, east Alteria to Arzeu. Alternate names: Fifia, Northern Shilha, Rif, Riff, Rifi, Ruafa, Shilha, Tirifie.  Dialects: Arzeu, Igzennaian, Iznacen (Beni Iznassen).  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Riff 
More information.

[grr] 40,000 (1995). Isolated, Timimoun area, near Touat region and southwest of Mzab [mzb]. Dialects: Gourara (Gurara), Touat (Tuat, Tuwat). Related to Tumzabt [mzb], Tagargrent [oua], Temacine Tamazight [tjo], but not as similar as they are to each other. Low intelligibility with other Tamazight speech forms, including Tumzabt and Tagargrent.  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla 
More information.

[mzb] 70,000 (1995). Mzab region south of Algiers. 7 oases, Ghardaia is principal one. Alternate names: Ghardaia, Mzab, Mzabi.  Dialects: Only minor dialect variations. Related to Tagargrent [oua], Temacine Tamazight [tjo], Taznatit [grr].  Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla 
More information.