Maldivian
A language of Maldives
| Population | 356,000 in Maldives (2007). Population total all countries: 371,000. |
| Region | Widespread. Also in India. |
| Alternate names | Dhivehi, Divehi, Divehi Bas, Divehli, Mali, Malikh, Malki |
| Dialects | Male, Huvudu, Foa Mulaku, Addu. Southern dialects mutually intelligible but not with Male. Southerners understand Male by acquired intelligibility. Male cannot understand the others. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Sinhalese-Maldivian |
| Language use | National language. Also use an Arabic variety or English [eng]. English is education medium in most schools. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L2: 98%. |
| Writing system | Thaana script. |
| Comments | Fishermen; tourist industry. Muslim (Sunni), traditional religion. |
Also spoken in:
India
| Language name | Maldivian |
| Population | 15,000 in India (2007). 10,000 in Minicoy and 5000 expatriates in Trivandrum. |
| Region | Laccadive Islands, Minicoy Island; Kerala, Trivandrum. |
| Alternate names | Dhivehi, Dhivehi Bas, Divehi, Mahl, Malikh, Malki |
| Dialects | Maliku Bas (Minicoy Dialect). |
| Language use | Also use Arabic [arb]. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L1: 95%–100%. Literacy rate in L2: 95%–100%. |
| Comments | Fishermen. Muslim (Sunni), traditional religion. |
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