Masalit

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A language of Sudan

South Darfur state: scattered; West Darfur state: Geneina and Habila districts. North and east of Geneina (Northern Masalit dialect).

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Chad

Language NameMasalit

User Population

112,000 in Chad (2019), increasing.

Location

Ouaddaï region: Assoungha department, Adré area; Sila region. Ouaddaï region (Western Masalit dialect).

Alternate Names

Kaana Masala, Kana Masaraka, Kanaa Masarak, Kanaa Masaraka, Masale, Masara, Masarak, Masaraka, Massalit, Massolit

Dialects

Northern Masalit, Western Masalit, Southern Masalit, Masaltang.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, market, traditional jurisdiction. Used by all. Positive attitudes, but Arabic often seen as superior. Also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu]. Used as L2 by Kendeje [klf], Sinyar [sys], Surbakhal [sbj], Tama [tma].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Increasing use of L1 literacy among Masalit in refugee camps in Chad, but no L1 literacy use in their home country of Sudan (2020 SIL). Taught as subject in primary schools in some refugee schools.

Other Comments

Masalit speakers in the Sila region are refugees. Muslim.

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Masalit

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A language of Sudan

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