Alternate Names: Kidal, Kidal Tamasheq, Tamashekin, Timbuktu, Tomacheck, “Tuareg” (pej.)
Dialects: Tadhaq (Kidal), Timbuktu (Tanaslamt, Tombouctou). May be 2 separate languages. A member of macrolanguage Tamashek ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 250,000 in Mali (1991). Population total all countries: 281,200.
Language Use: All ages. Used as L2 by Koyra Chiini Songhay [khq], Koyraboro Senni Songhay [ses], Tadaksahak [dsq].
Language Development: The government is actively promoting the language through adult literacy classes. Taught in primary schools. New media. Grammar. NT: 2003.
Writing System: Latin, Tifinagh (Berber)
Nation of Origin: Mali
Other Comments: The Bellah were formerly under the Tamasheq economically. Muslim.