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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Sudan > Nobiin

Nobiin

A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3: fia

Population  295,000 in Sudan (1996). Population total all countries: 605,000.
Region  Northern Province, north from Burgeg to Egypt border at Wadi Halfa; Kassala Province, New Halfa. Also in Egypt.
Language map  Sudan
Alternate names   Fiadidja-Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Mahas-Fiyadikkya
Dialects  Mahas (Mahasi, Mahass), Fiyadikka (Fedicca, Fadicha, Fadicca, Fadija, Fiadidja).
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Eastern, Nubian, Northern
Language use  Spoken by the Mahas in Sudan and the Fedicca in Egypt. Also use Sudanese Arabic [apd].
Language development  Bible portions: 1860–1899.
Writing system  Arabic script. Coptic script, Old Nubian. Latin script.
Comments  Called ‘Fiadidja-Mahas’ in Egypt.

Also spoken in:

Egypt

Language name   Nobiin
Population  310,000 in Egypt (2006).
Region  Northern Province, north from Burgeg to Egypt border at Wadi Halfa; Kassala Province, New Halfa; 40% in Upper Nile Valley, mainly near Kom Ombo; scattered in cities.
Language map  Egypt and Libya
Alternate names  Fadicca, Fadicha, Fadija, Fedicca, Fedija, Fiadidja, Fiadidja-Mahas, Fiyadikkya, Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Nile Nubian, Sukot
Language use  The language is the central feature of Nubian identity. The ethnic group is larger in Egypt than Sudan, but most are now monolingual in Egyptian [arz] or Sa’idi Arabic [aec]. The shift to Arabic is expected to continue in the cities.
Comments  Spoken by the Fedicca in Egypt and the Mahas in Sudan. Muslim.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

AHMED, Ibrahim, author. 2004. "Suggestions for writing modern Nubian languages."