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

Masalit

A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3: mls

Population  Population total all countries: 60,900.
Region  North, Darfur Province, Dar Masalit and Nyala District, scattered colonies in Dar Fongoro, south and east; Gedaref region; Geneina, Mistere, and Habila Kajangise. Also in Chad.
Language map  Sudan
Alternate names   Jwisince, Kaana Masala, Massalit
Dialects  The dialect in Dar Masalit in Darfur differs from that spoken in Nyala District.
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Western, Luo, Northern, Maban-Burun, Maban, Mabang, Masalit
Language use  Majority use Arabic [apd] as L2; however, people in the central area and women know only limited Arabic.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Many fled to Chad due to war in Darfur (2007).

Also spoken in:

Chad

Language name   Masalit
Population  60,900 in Chad (2006).
Region  Ouaddaï region, Assoungha Department, around Adré. Northern Masalit is north and east of Geneina in Sudan, Western Masalit in Ouaddaï, Southern Masalit in Sudan.
Language map  Chad, reference number 15
Alternate names  Kaana Masala, Masale, Masara, Massalit, Massolit
Dialects  Northern Masalit, Western Masalit, Southern Masalit.
Language use  Most also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu].
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%.
Comments  Muslim.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Prinz, Angela, Beate Tiemann and Marion Thompson. 1991. Rapport d'une enquete linguistique et sociologuistique parmi les Maba et Massalit de la prefecture du Ouddai.