Languages of Chad

Chad has two official languages, French and literary Arabic, and over 120 indigenous languages. A vernacular version of Arabic, Chadian Arabic, is the lingua franca.

Chadian Sign Language is actually Nigerian Sign Language, a dialect of American Sign Language; Andrew Foster introduced ASL in the 1960s, and Chadian teachers for the deaf train in Nigeria.

Niger–Congo languages

• Adamawa languages
  • Goundo
  • Kim (15,354, RGPH 1993)
  • Moundang (160,000, RGPH 1993)
  • Toupouri (90,785, RGPH, 1993)
  • Bua languages: Bua, Niellim, Gula Iro, etc. (total < 30,000)

Nilo-Saharan languages

• Maban languages
  • Maba (120,000, SIL 1991)
  • Massalit (50,857, RGPH 1993)
  • Karanga
  • Kendeje
  • Marfa
  • Massalat
  • Surbakhal
  • Kibet
  • Runga

• Fur languages
  • Mimi
  • Amdang (5,000, Bender 1983)

• Saharan languages
  • Tedaga
  • Dazaga
  • Kanembu
  • Zaghawa

• Bongo–Bagirmi languages (Central Sudanic)
  • Bernde
  • Bagirmi
  • Berakou
  • Disa
  • Gula
  • Jaya
  • Kenga (30,000, SIL 1993)
  • Naba
  • Fongoro
  • Barma (44,761, RGPH 1993)
  • Beraku
  • Ngambay
  • Sara (183,471, RGPH 1993)

• Sinyar

• Eastern Sudanic languages
  • Tama (63,000)
  • Sungor (38,000)
  • Mararit (43,000)
  • Daju

Afro-Asiatic languages

• Semitic languages
  • Chadian Spoken Arabic
• Chadic languages
  • Bidiyo
  • Buduma
  • Dangaléat
  • Gabri
  • Herdé
  • Kabalai
  • Kera
  • Kimré
  • Kwang
  • Lele
  • Marba
  • Masana
  • Masmaje
  • Mesme
  • Migaama
  • Mubi
  • Musey
  • Musgu
  • Nancere
  • Pévé
  • Tobanga
  • Tumak

(Ethnologue lists 54 Chadic languages in Chad altogether, many of them small.)

Creole languages

• Babalia Creole Arabic
• Sango

Unclassified languages

• Laal (749, SIL 2000)

External links

• Ethnologue page on "Languages of Chad"
• PanAfrican L10n page on Chad