Language Information by Source

Rapid Appraisal Sociolinguistic Survey Among Ama, Karko, and Wali Language Groups

Amy Krell. 2012. "Rapid Appraisal Sociolinguistic Survey Among Ama, Karko, and Wali Language Groups." SIL. Online: http://www.sil.org/silesr/2012/silesr2012-023_ESR_357_final.pdf.

Endangered
80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
<8,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Domains of Use

Domain Of Use 4

Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.

4
Transmission

Transmission 2

Most adults in the community are speakers, but children generally are not.

2

Speakers

Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"The Karko consider themselves to speak Arabic well, while the elders know Karko at a deeper level. Other than Arabic and Karko, they do not consider themselves able to speak any other language well. Some of them understand Ama and/or Mandal. There are older Karko people who do not speak any language other than Karko... The older people tend to use Karko as their only language of communication. Young people are reportedly proud of the Karko language, yet there are many Karko people who only understand the language without being able to speak it... When asked what language the future generation of children will be speaking, the respondents indicated that they think it will be Arabic, but an older lady said that she wants the children to use Karko. Another person commented that he thinks it is important
to continue speaking Karko 'because in years to come, they will forget their dialect and so it is good for them to know it.'"

Location and Context

Countries
Sudan;
Location Description

"Speakers live in the Karko Hills 20 miles west of Dilling, including Dulman...The term 'Karko' (when referring to a speech variety) will be used for the variety spoken in the village of Karko."

Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Sudanese Arabic
Number of Other Language Speakers:
Most; there are some older monolinguals
Domains of Other Languages:
None

Writing Systems

Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.

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