Alternate Names: Arabe Choa, Chad Arabic, Chadian Arabic, Chowa, L’arabe du Tchad, Shua, Shua Arabic, Shuwa Arabic, Suwa
Dialects: Dialects depend on whether their speakers are sedentary or nomads, rural or urban, and on migration routes. A pidginized variety, commonly called, Bongor Arabic, is spoken as L2 by many in the Mayo-Kebbi and other parts of south Chad. A member of macrolanguage Arabic ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 896,000 in Chad (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 1,139,000.
Language Use: Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Amdang [amj], Assangori [sjg], Bagirmi [bmi], Barein [bva], Besme [bes], Bidiyo [bid], Bolgo [bvo], Bon Gula [glc], Bua [bub], Buduma [bdm], Dangaléat [daa], Dar Daju Daju [djc], Dar Sila Daju [dau], Dazaga [dzg], Fania [fni], Gula [glu], Gula Iro [glj], Kanembu [kbl], Kenga [kyq], Kibet [kie], Koke [kou], Kulfa [kxj], Lagwan [kot], Maba [mde], Mabire [muj], Mararit [mgb], Marfa [mvu], Masalit [mls], Masmaje [mes], Mawa [mcw], Migaama [mmy], Mogum [mou], Mser [kqx], Mubi [mub], Mukulu [moz], Naba [mne], Runga [rou], Saba [saa], Sinyar [sys], Sokoro [sok], Tama [tma], Tamki [tax], Tedaga [tuq], Toram [trj], Tunia [tug], Zaghawa [zag], Zan Gula [zna], Zerenkel [zrn].
Language Development: Primary school program. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1967–1991.
Writing System: Arabic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Chad
Other Comments: Shuwa Arabic is the name used in other countries for the dialect near Lake Chad. Muslim.