Alternate Names: Hasanya, Hasanya Arabic, Hassani, Hassania, Hassaniya, Hassaniyya Arabic, Klem El Bithan, Maure
Dialects: None known. Not intelligible with other Arabic varieties. The Nemadi (Ikoku) are an ethnic group of 200 (1967) that speak Hassaniyya, but they have special morphemes for dogs, hunting, and houses. Nomadic between Mali and Mauritania.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 2,770,000 in Mauritania (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 3,278,190.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use French [fra], Standard Arabic [arb]. Used as L2 by Pulaar [fuc], Soninke [snk], Zenaga [zen].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 40% Arabic [arb]; 25% French. Literacy in Hassaniyya not encouraged by the government. Radio programs. Dictionary.
Spoken In: Western Sahara, Mauritania
Writing System: Arabic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Mauritania
Other Comments: Ethnonym: Maures, Moors. White Maure are called Bithan, also used for Maures in general. Black Maures are called Haratine. Muslim.