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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Sudan > Nobiin

Nobiin

A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3: fia

Population 295,000 in Sudan (1996). Population total all countries: 495,000.
Region Northern Province, northwards from Burgeg to the Egyptian border at Wadi Halfa. Also at New Halfa in Kassala Province. Also spoken in Egypt.
Alternate names   Mahas-Fiadidja, Mahas-Fiyadikkya, Fiadidja-Mahas
Dialects Mahas (Mahasi, Mahass), Fiyadikka (Fedicca, Fadicha, Fadicca, Fadija, Fiadidja). Not intelligible with Kenuzi-Dongola. Lexical similarity 67% with Kenuzi-Dongola.
Classification Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Eastern, Nubian, Northern
Language use Spoken by the Mahas in Sudan and the Fedicca in Egypt. Speakers also use Sudanese Arabic.
Language development Arabic and Roman scripts in Egypt. Bible portions: 1860–1899.
Comments Called 'Fiadidja-Mahas' in Egypt. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Egypt

Language name   Nobiin
Population 200,000 in Egypt (1996).
Region Northern Province, northwards from Burgeg to the Egyptian border at Wadi Halfa. Also at New Halfa in Kassala Province. 40% in the Upper Nile Valley, mainly near Kom Ombo; the rest in various cities.
Alternate names   Fiadidja-Mahas, Mahas-Fiadidja, Fadicca, Fadicha, Fedija, Fadija, Fiadidja, Fiyadikkya, Fedicca, Nile Nubian, Mahas, Sukot
Language use The language is the center of Nubian identity. The ethnic group is larger in Egypt than Sudan, but most are now monolingual in Egyptian or Sa`idi Arabic. The shift to Arabic is expected to continue in the cities.
Comments Spoken by the Fedicca in Egypt and the Mahas in Sudan. Muslim.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Ahmed, Ibrahim. 2004. "Suggestions for writing modern Nubian languages."

Hāshim, Muḥammad Jalāl Aḥmad. 2004. "Competing orthographies for writing Nobiin Nubian."