Tunisia

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Tunisia

International Conventions

ACHPR (1983), CDE (1969), CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2006), ICCPR (1969), UNCRPD (2008), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

11,721,000

Principal Languages

Standard Arabic, Tunisian Spoken Arabic

Literacy Rate

82% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Applegate 1970, Cohen 1985, S’hiri 1994

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Tunisia is 8. Of these, 6 are living and 2 are extinct. Of the living languages, 2 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 3 are developing, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 7 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Algerian Saharan Spoken aao: Users: 68,000 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Algerian Spoken arq: Users: 268,000 in Tunisia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Judeo-Tunisian ajt: Al Munastir governorate; Madanin governorate: Djerba island; Susah and Tunis governorates. Users: 500 in Tunisia (2011 UNESCO). Total users in all countries: 10,500. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Djerbian Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Libyan Spoken ayl: Users: 293,000 in Tunisia (2016). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 23,000 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Users: 8,790,000 in Tunisia (2014 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1959, Constitution, Article 1). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Tunisian Spoken aeb: Widespread. Users: 10,800,000 in Tunisia (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 11,709,020. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Tunisian, Tunisian Arabic, Tunisian Darija Autonym: Derja, تونسي‎ (Tounsi) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
English eng: Users: 1,721,500 in Tunisia, all users. L1 users: 1,500 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,720,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Widespread. Users: 6,081,200 in Tunisia, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 6,080,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Ghadamès gha: Users: 3,100 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, East
Italian ita: Users: 1,100 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Lingua Franca pml: Tunis governorate; other major Mediterranean ports. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speakers probably survived into the 1850s (Holm 1989). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: ’Ajnabi, Aljamia, Ferenghi, Petit Mauresque, Sabir Classification: Pidgin, Romance based
Maltese mlt: Users: 3,400 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Sened sds: Qafsah governorate: Sened and Tmagourt villages, northwest of Gabès. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speakers probably survived into the 1970s. Status: 10 (Extinct). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, East
Shilha jbn: Madanin governorate: Ajim, Djerba island, Guellala, and Sedouikech; Qabis governorate: Matmata, Tamezret, Taoujjout, and Zraoua; Qibili governorate: Douiret, Chenini, and Tataouine; Tunis city. Users: 50,000 in Tunisia (2004 S. Chaker). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Djerbi, Jabal Nafusi, Nafusi, Tunisian Berber Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, East
Tunisian Sign Language tse: Scattered, especially Tunis and Sfax. Users: 21,200 (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.2% of total population. Another estimate: 53,000 deaf (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1959, Constitution, Article 1). 8,790,000 in Tunisia (2014 SIL), all users.

5 (Dispersed)

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 1,721,500 in Tunisia, all users. L1 users: 1,500 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 1,720,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 6,081,200 in Tunisia, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 6,080,000 (Beck et al 2018).

5 (Developing)

Tunisian Sign Language

[tse] 5 (Developing). 21,200 (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.2% of total population. Another estimate: 53,000 deaf (2014 IMB).

6b (Threatened)

Shilha

[jbn] 6b* (Threatened). 50,000 in Tunisia (2004 S. Chaker).

8a (Moribund)

Arabic, Judeo-Tunisian

[ajt] 8a (Moribund). 500 in Tunisia (2011 UNESCO). Total users in all countries: 10,500.

10 (Extinct)

Lingua Franca

[pml] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speakers probably survived into the 1850s (Holm 1989).

Sened

[sds] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speakers probably survived into the 1970s.

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara

Language Vitality Profile

Click to enlarge with explanation

Language Status Profile