Mauritania

Summary

Official Name

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

International Conventions

ACHPR (1986), CPPDCE (2015), CSICH (2006), ICCPR (2004), UNCRPD (2012)

Population

4,403,000

Principal Languages

French, Standard Arabic

Literacy Rate

54% (2017 UNESCO)

General References

Applegate 1970, Gerteiny 1967, Welmers 1971b

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Mauritania is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 3 are developing, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 1,840,000 in Mauritania (2013 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 6). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bambara bam: Users: 21,100 in Mauritania (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-East, Northeastern Manding, Bamana
French fra: Widespread. Users: 610,210 in Mauritania, all users. L1 users: 6,210 in Mauritania (2018). L2 users: 604,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Hassaniyya mey: Widespread. Users: 3,560,000 in Mauritania (2017), increasing. Total users in all countries: 4,883,500. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Hasanya, Hasanya Arabic, Hassani, Hassania, Hassaniya, Hassaniyya Arabic, Klem El Bithan, Maure, Moor Autonym: Hassaniyya, حسانية‎‎‎ (Ḥassānīya) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Pulaar fuc: Brakna, Gorgol, and Trarza regions, near Senegal. Users: 267,000 in Mauritania (2017). Status: 5 (Developing). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Peul Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fula, Western
Soninke snk: Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, and Guidimaka regions: Kaedi and Selibaby towns; 45 villages. Users: 219,000 in Mauritania (2017), increasing. Status: 5 (Developing). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Aswanek, Aswanik, Azer, Gangara, Genger, Maraka, Marka, Sarakole, Sarakolle, Sarakule, Sarakulle, Serahule, Soninkanxanne Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke
Tamashek tmh: Users: 117,000 in Mauritania (2017). Status: Unestablished.
Wolof wol: Brakna and Trarza regions. Users: 19,300 in Mauritania (2017), increasing. Status: 5 (Dispersed). Statutory language of national identity (1991, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Ouolof, Volof, Walaf, Yallof Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof
Zenaga zen: Trarza region: Atlantic coast to Mederdra. Users: 200 in Mauritania (2018), decreasing. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Mauritania Berber, Mauritanian Berber, Zenaga Berber Autonym: ⵜⵓⵥⵥⵓⵏⴳⵉⵢⵢⴰ‎ (Tuẓẓungiyya) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Zenaga