Maba

Primary tabs

A language of Chad

Aulad Djema, Awlad Djema, Bargo, Bergo, Borgho, Borgu, Kana Mabang, Mabaa, Mabak, Mabang, Ouaddai, Ouaddaien, Uled Djemma, Wadai, Waddayen

Autonym

Bura Mabang

User Population

542,000 in Chad (2019), decreasing. Very few monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 567,000.

Location

Batha region; Ouaddaï region: Djourf-al-Ahmar and Ouara departments; Sila region; Wadi Fira region: Biltine department, Biltine subprefecture; most of Ouara department and villages south of Biltine.

Language Maps

Chad

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification

Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Maban, Maba

Dialects

Maba, Kabartu, Kodroy, Kondongo. Lexical similarity: 73% with Karanga [kth], 63% with Marfa [mvu], 42% with Masalit [mls].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

All domains in the village; home only in the towns. All ages in the villages; mostly adults in towns. Mixed attitudes. The language is generally valued less than Arabic. Many also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu]. Used as L2 by Kendeje [klf], Surbakhal [sbj].

Language Development

Low motivation. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Maba

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim.