Maba

MDE

wider communication

Alternate Names: Borgu, Bura Mabang, Kana Mabang, Mabaa, Mabak, Mabang, Ouaddai, Ouaddaien, Wadai, Waddayen

Dialects: Kabartu, Kodroy, Kondongo, Maba. Lexical similarity: 73% with Karanga ,, 63% with Marfa ,, 42% with Masalit ,.

Genealogy:

Nilo-Saharan
Maban
Maba

Demographics: 296,000 (2006 E. Zürcher), decreasing. Very few monolinguals.

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. 180,000 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 programs. Dictionary. Grammar.

Typology: SOV.

Writing System: Arabic, Latin

Nation of Origin: Chad

Other Comments: Ethnic groups: Uled Djemma (Aulad Djema, Awlad Djema). Muslim.