Zari

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
zaz
Alternate Names
Zariwa
User Population

No known L1 speakers, but emerging L2 speakers. The last speaker died by the year 2000 (Campbell and Belew 2018). Ethnic population: 20,700 (2000 CAPRO). 20,000 Zakshi (1995 CAPRO), 1,000 Boto (Gunn 1953).

Location

Bauchi state: Dass, Tafawa Balewa, and Toro LGAs.

Language Status

9 (Reawakening).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West, B, B.3, Zaar Proper
Dialects

Zakshi (Zaksa), Boto (Bibot, Boot), Zari (Kopti, Kwapm). Dialect cluster within Barawa cluster (Crozier and Blench 1992).

Language Use

Shifted to Hausa [hau].

Language Development

The Oral Bible Storying (OBS) project has been key to revitalization efforts in the Zakshi dialect (2021 L. Rose).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Zari
Other Comments

Muslim.