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Index / Languages
  Sudan /
Languages
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Languages
Figures in 1000. |
| Arabic |
21,000 |
55% |
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Sudanese |
21,000 |
55% |
| Dinka |
3,000 |
8% |
| Bedawi (Cushitic) |
1,800 |
5% |
| Nuer |
1,400 |
4% |
| Fur |
1,000 |
2.7% |
| Zande |
660 |
1.8% |
| Shilluk |
330 |
0.9% |
| Hausa |
550 |
1.5% |
| Bari |
480 |
1.3% |
| Nobiin |
350 |
1,0% |
| Masalit |
280 |
0.8% |
| Other languages |
6,200 |
17% |
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Thanks to Sudan's ethnic diversity, it has as many as 134 languages, more than 400 if dialects are counted. In addition are 8 extinct languages located to Sudan.
Among the living ones is Arabic the totally dominating one, and there is even a large project to replace the original languages of many ethnic groups and make them start using Arabic instead. Arabic is also widely used as a second language, bridging the gap between the many peoples of this country. There are several variants of Arabic. The dominant is labelled Sudanese colloquial, another is called Juba pidgin Arabic, and used in the south. The Arabic used in the West is close to Chadian Arabic.
English is the principal language in the south., serving is a lingua franca in areas where Juba pidgin Arabic is not used.
The languages of Sudan belong to either of 3 families: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger-Congo.
To Afro-Asiatic belongs Arabic and Bedawi.
To Nilo-Saharan belongs Dinka, the several Nuba languages and Shilluk.
The Niger-Congo family is represented by languages spoken only by smaller groups.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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