Juba Arabic
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A language of South Sudan
1,447,000, all users. L1 users: 247,000 (Avram 2020). With the rapidly changing demographic situation it is very difficult to know the number of L1 or L2 speakers and whether these numbers are increasing or decreasing. L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019 SIL).
Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Western Equatoria states: widespread, into Northern Bahr al Ghazal, Western Bahr al Ghazal, and Upper Nile states. Likely spoken in refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya.
3 (Wider communication). Juba Arabic originated as a pidgin language among southern slaves, soldiers, and servants in 19th century trading camps and Turco-Egyptian government stations. Unofficial lingua franca of local government, trade, and urban interaction.
SVO.
Major language of communication in Greater Equatoria region, and south of Wau and Malakal. Most domains except very formal situations; also used in government. Used by all. Used as L2 by Banda-Banda [bpd], Banda-Mbrès [bqk], Banda-Ndélé [bfl], Imotong [imt], Lango [lgo], Logir [lqr], Mid-Southern Banda [bjo], Okolie [oie].
Literature. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1983–1985.
The sociolinguistic situation is changing rapidly with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese from the North, speaking Sudanese Colloquial Arabic [apd], and others from East Africa and the rest of the world, mainly speaking English [eng].