Page Type: languageMaba | Ethnologue

MDE ISO 639-3

Maba

Bura Mabang Autonym

A language of Chad

ISO 639
mde
Alternate Names
Aulad Djema, Awlad Djema, Bargo, Bergo, Borgho, Borgu, Kana Mabang, Mabaa, Mabak, Mabang, Ouaddai, Ouaddaien, Uled Djemma, Wadai, Waddayen
Autonym
Bura Mabang
Population
542,000 in Chad (2019), decreasing. Very few monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 567,000.
Location:
Batha region; Ouaddaï region: Djourf-al-Ahmar and Ouara departments; Sila region; Wadi Fira region: Biltine department, Biltine subprefecture; most of Ouara department and villages south of Biltine.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Maban, Maba
Dialects
Maba, Kabartu, Kodroy, Kondongo. Lexical similarity: 73% with Karanga [kth], 63% with Marfa [mvu], 42% with Masalit [mls].
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
All domains in the village; home only in the towns. All ages in the villages; mostly adults in towns. Mixed attitudes. The language is generally valued less than Arabic. Many also use Chadian Spoken Arabic [shu]. Used as L2 by Kendeje [klf], Surbakhal [sbj].
Language Development
Low motivation. Primary school program by gtz-Education. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maba
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Sulaihab
User Population
25,000 in Sudan (2017).
Location
South Kordofan: Nuba mountains.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Sudan

Map

Location: Batha region; Ouaddaï region: Djourf-al-Ahmar and Ouara departments; Sila region; Wadi Fira region: Biltine department, Biltine subprefecture; most of Ouara department and villages south of Biltine.