Chenoua

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Algeria

ISO 639-3
cnu
Alternate Names
Chenoui, Haqbaylit̠, Shenwa
User Population

76,300 (2004 J. Leclerc). Beni Menacer: 61,000; Chenoui: 15,300 (2004 J. Leclerc).

Location

Aïn Defla province: north of Khemis; Chlef province: Mount Bissa area; Tipasa province: generally Mount Chenoua area; Mount Chenoua area (Chenoui dialect), south and west (Beni Menacer dialect); Tacheta forest area, and Beni Haoua village (Djebel Bissa dialect).

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern
Dialects

Beni Menacer (Chleuh, Tachelhit, Tamenracit), Chenoui, Djebel Bissa, Tamazight de l’Atlas blidéen (Beni-Salah). Lexical similarity: 77% with Tachawit [shy], 76% with Amazigh (Kabyle) [kab].

Language Use

Mainly rural village use. Some parents teach children Arabic for educational advantage. These youth then learn Chenoua from elders at an older age. Some of all ages. Also use Algerian Spoken Arabic [arq], with shift in larger towns and cities.

Language Development

Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chenoua
Other Comments

Muslim.