Jordan

Summary

Official Name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Population: 10,269,000
Principal Languages: South Levantine Spoken Arabic, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 98% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Fischer and Jastrow 1980, Ingham 1982, Johnstone 1967, Sebeok 1963
Deaf Population: 240,200
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Jordan is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 9 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 4 are developing, 3 are vigorous, and 3 are in trouble. Also listed are 5 unestablished languages.

Languages

Adyghe ady: Major cities. Users: 93,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Adygey, West Circassian Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 1,600,000 in Jordan (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Levantine Bedawi Spoken avl: Widespread but especially east. Users: 1,390,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Najdi Spoken ars: Al ‘Aqabah, Al Mafraq, Az-Zarqa’, and southeast Ma‘an governorates; scattered settlements far eastern Jordan. Users: 104,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Najdi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Major cities. Users: 1,300,000 in Jordan (2021 Reliefweb), all users. All are refugees from Syria. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken ayp: Scattered. Users: 415,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp: ‘Ajlun, Al Balqa’, Al Karak, Al Mafraq, ‘Amman, Irbid, Jarash, and Madaba governorates. Users: 7,130,000 in Jordan (2021), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 14,543,700. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Became widespread before 1946 in the coastal region along the eastern Mediterranean. Spoken primarily in Jordan for everyday communication, also spoken throughout the Middle East. Used in entertainment. Alternate Names: Levantine Arabic, Palestinian-Jordanian, South Levantine Arabic Autonym: أردني‎ (Urduni) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 5,770,000 in Jordan (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1952, Constitution, Article 2). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Widespread. Users: 10,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Chechen che: Al Mafraq and Az-Zarqa’ governorates; scattered communities north of Amman. Users: 5,200 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Nokhchi Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Domari rmt: ‘Amman governorate and Iraqi-Jordan border area (Al Mafraq governorate). Users: A few scattered and isolated speaker populations (Herin 2016). Ethnic population: 4,910 (2000). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Dom, Gypsy, Middle Eastern Romani, Nawar, Tsigene Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Dom
English eng: Users: 4,564,800 in Jordan, all users. L1 users: 14,800 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 4,550,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Greek ell: Users: 2,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Jordanian Sign Language jos: Scattered. Users: 30,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 20,000–40,000 deaf signers, based on 0.2%–0.4% of the general population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: LIU, Lughat al-Ishāra al-Urdunia, Lughat il-Ishaarah il-Urduniyyah Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Kabardian kbd: ‘Amman, Az-Zarqa’, and Jarash governorates; Russeifa and Sweileh urban areas near the capital. Users: 151,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 7,400 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Tagalog tgl: Users: 8,900 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Turkish tur: Scattered. Users: 8,260 in Jordan (2010 census). Ethnic population: 62,000 (Leclerc 2021). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1952, Constitution, Article 2). 5,770,000 in Jordan (2015 SIL), all users.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken

[ajp] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Became widespread before 1946 in the coastal region along the eastern Mediterranean. Spoken primarily in Jordan for everyday communication, also spoken throughout the Middle East. Used in entertainment. 7,130,000 in Jordan (2021), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 14,543,700.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 4,564,800 in Jordan, all users. L1 users: 14,800 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 4,550,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Chechen

[che] 5* (Dispersed). 5,200 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Turkish

[tur] 5* (Dispersed). 8,260 in Jordan (2010 census). Ethnic population: 62,000 (Leclerc 2021).

5 (Developing)

Adyghe

[ady] 5* (Developing). 93,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Jordanian Sign Language

[jos] 5 (Developing). 30,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 20,000–40,000 deaf signers, based on 0.2%–0.4% of the general population.

6a (Vigorous)

Arabic, Levantine Bedawi Spoken

[avl] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,390,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, Najdi Spoken

[ars] 6a* (Vigorous). 104,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken

[ayp] 6a* (Vigorous). 415,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

6b (Threatened)

Domari

[rmt] 6b* (Threatened). A few scattered and isolated speaker populations (Herin 2016). Ethnic population: 4,910 (2000).

Kabardian

[kbd] 6b* (Threatened). 151,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

7 (Shifting)

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 7 (Shifting). 10,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Unestablished

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 1,600,000 in Jordan (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality.

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 1,300,000 in Jordan (2021 Reliefweb), all users. All are refugees from Syria.

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 2,000 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] Unestablished. 7,400 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 8,900 in Jordan (Leclerc 2021), based on ethnicity.

Maps

Jordan and Syria

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Jordan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Jordan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Jordan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Jordan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Jordan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Jordan ($149.95, 22 page PDF)

Jordan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Jordan and Syria

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action