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Kanuri, Central

A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3: knc

Population	3,000,000 in Nigeria (Gunnemark and Kenrick 1985). Population total all countries: 3,240,500.
Region	Borno state, Kukawa, Kaga, Konduga, Maiduguri, Monguno, Ngala, Bama, Gwoza LGAs; Yobe state, Nguru, Geidam, Damaturu, Fika, Fune, and Gujba LGAs; Jigawa state, Hadejia LGA. Also in Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Niger, Sudan.
Language map	Nigeria, Map 4, reference number 218
Alternate names	Beriberi, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury, Yerwa Kanuri
Dialects	Kaga (Kagama), Lare (Lere), Kwayam, Njesko, Kabari (Kuvuri), Ngazar, Guvja, Mao, Temageri, Fadawa, Yerwa. Kwayam dialect not understood by other Kanuri (Lukas 1937). Maiduguri dialect mutually intelligible. Most similar to Manga Kanuri [kby] and Tumari Kanuri [krt]. Yerwa is the central dialect. Part of a dialect subgroup that includes other Kanuri dialects and Tumari Kanuri [krt] in Chad.
Classification	Nilo-Saharan, Saharan, Western, Kanuri A member of macrolanguage Kanuri [kau] (Nigeria).
Language use	Official language. 500,000 L2 speakers.
Language development	Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1997.
Writing system	Arabic script, Ajami style. Latin script.
Comments	SOV. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Cameroon

Language name	Kanuri, Central
Population	56,500 in Cameroon (1982 SIL).
Region	Far North Province, Mayo-Sava Division, mainly north of Mora between Limani and Bounderi, and Kolofata Subdivision; Diamare Division, Maroua and Bogo Subdivisions; Kaele and Mayo-Danay divisions, as far as Mindif and Guirvidig.
Language map	Northern Cameroon, reference number 12
Alternate names	“Baribari” , “Beriberi” , Bornouan, Bornouans, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury, Kole, Kolere, Sirata, Yerwa Kanuri
Dialects	Mowor (Movar), Dagara, Kaga (Kagama), Sugurti, Lare, Kwayam, Njesko, Kabari (Kuvuri), Ngazar, Guvja, Mao, Temageri, Fadawa, Maiduguri.
Comments	Muslim.

Chad

Language name	Kanuri, Central
Population	104,000 in Chad (2006). 34,549 in Chari-Baguirmi and 23,287 in N’Djaména.
Region	Communities in Chari-Baguirmi, Batha, Guéra, and Mayo-Kebbi regions.
Language map	Southwestern Chad, reference number 34
Alternate names	Aga, “Baribari” , “Beriberi” , Bornouan, Bornouans, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury, Kole, Kolere, Sirata, Yerwa Kanuri
Dialects	Dagara, Kaga (Kagama), Sugurti, Lare, Kwayam, Njesko, Kabari (Kuvuri), Ngazar, Guvja, Mao, Temageri, Fadawa.
Comments	Muslim.

Niger

Language name	Kanuri, Central
Population	80,000 in Niger (1998).
Region	East, along Nigeria border.
Language map	Niger
Alternate names	“Beriberi” , Bornouans, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury, Kole, Sirata, Yerwa Kanuri
Dialects	Movar (Mowor, Mober, Mobber, Mavar).
Comments	Movar may be a separate language. Muslim.

Sudan

Language name	Kanuri, Central
Region	North.
Alternate names	“Beriberi” , Bornouans, Bornu, Kanouri, Kanoury, Kole, Sirata, Yerwa Kanuri
Dialects	Dagara, Kaga (Kagama), Sugurti, Lare, Kwayam, Njesko, Kabari (Kuvuri), Ngazar, Guvja, Mao, Temageri, Fadawa, Maiduguri.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

JARRETT, Kevin A., author. 1978. "Vowel length in Kanuri."

JARRETT, Kevin A., author. 1980. "Tense/aspect/mood in Kanuri verb forms."

JARRETT, Kevin A., author. 1981. "The development of the Kanuri aspect system within Western Saharan."

JARRETT, Kevin A., author. 1988. "Dialectes et alphabétisation dans les écoles: Une étude explorative de l’intercompréhension des différents dialectes kanuri du Niger."