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Index / Languages
  Libya /
Languages
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Languages
Figures in 1000. |
Arabic
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5,500 |
95% |
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Libyan
|
5,500 |
95% |
Berber
|
250 |
4.5% |
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Nafusi
|
200 |
3.5% |
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Tamahaq
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30 |
0.5% |
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Sokna
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8 |
0.1% |
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Awjila
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5 |
0.1% |
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Ghademes
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3 |
0.1% |
Domari
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33 |
0.6% |
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Libyan Arabic, also named Sulaymi Arabic, comes in three main dialects: In the west, Tripolitanian Arabic, which is similar to the Bedouin Arabic of southern Tunisia, then Southern Libyan Arabic, and Eastern Libyan Arabic. Libyan Arabic is also spoken in Egypt, and by a few communities in Niger; in Egypt it usually is referred to as Western Bedouin.
Berber languages of Libya seem to still be vital, although little supported by central governments. The largest of these, Nafusi, is named after its region, the Nafusi Mountains that stretch into Tunisia (where Berber usage comes to an abrupt end right at the border), and on to the coast near Zuwara. Nafusi Berber speakers are reportedly proud of their language, and even in our times, children do not learn Arabic before starting school.
Other Berber languages, like Ghadames, Sukna, Awlija are limited to their own home villages (Ghadames, Sukna, Awjila). Exactly how much these understand of Nafusi is not well documented, but at least Ghadames, which is in the extreme end of the Nafusi Mountains, cannot be far off from Nafusi.
Tamahaq Berber belongs is spoken in an wide area with Ghat as its centre, stretching into Algeria and Niger, counting altogether 110,000.
Information about the third daily language, Domari, is indirect. Apparently it is spoken across Libya, although mainly along the coast. The Doms form no large community, rather small groups in most larger cities and town.
French, as well as English, are the main foreign languages, but not widely spoken. Italian, the old colonial language comes on a third place, but is not loosing ground to the two other major European languages.
There are no newspapers in anything but Arabic, and of non-Arabic periodicals, the only ones are in English.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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