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.

Afro-Asiatic languages

*Chadic languages
**Boudouma (51,600, RGPH 1993)
**Kéra (44,523, RGPH 1993)
**Massa (109,093, RGPH 1993)
**Moussey

*Semitic languages
**Chadian Arabic (754,590, RGPH 1993)

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

*Sara-Baguirmi languages
**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

Unclassified languages

* Laal (749, SIL 2000)

External links

* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=TD "Ethnologue" page on "Languages of Chad"]
* [http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Chad PanAfrican L10n page on Chad]