Nobiin

A language of Sudan

Fiadidja-Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Mahas-Fiyadikkya

User Population

144,000 in Sudan (2017). Total users in all countries: 546,000.

Location

Northern state: Wadi Halfa district, Burgeg to Wadi Halfa; possibly east of Khartoum city, New Halfa area.

Language Maps

6b (Threatened).

Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Northern (k languages), Nubian, Northern

Dialects

Mahas (Mahasi, Mahass). Lexical similarity: 67% with Kenzi [xnz], but not intelligible of it.

Language Use

Some young people, all adults. Also use Sudanese Spoken Arabic [apd].

Language Development

Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1860–1899. The goals of the Nubian Language Society are to revitalize the Nubian language, teach the Nubian language to all Nubian people, and develop the Nubian language to cope with technology and modern life (Jaeger 2008). Agency: Nubian Language Society.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Nobiin

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Coptic script [Copt], Old Nubian variant. Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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Egypt

Language NameNobiin

User Population

402,000 in Egypt (2019).

Location

Aswan governorate: Kom Ombo area; shares area with Mattokki [xnz]; scattered in cities.

Alternate Names

Fadicca, Fadicha, Fadija, Fedicca, Fedija, Fiadidja, Fiadidja-Mahas, Fiyadikkya, Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Sukot

Dialects

Fiyadikka.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Egyptian Spoken Arabic [arz]. Shifting to Sa’idi Spoken Arabic [aec].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. The language is the central feature of Nubian identity. Spoken by the Fedicca in Egypt and the Mahas in Sudan. Muslim.

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Nobiin

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A language of Sudan

Also spoken in:

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