Also Known As:
Mehrī, Mahri, Meḥri
Dialects & Varieties
- Nagdi
- Western Mehri
- Eastern Mehri
The Modern South Arabian Languages
Simeone-Simelle, Marie-Claude. 1997. "The Modern South Arabian Languages." In The Semitic Languages, edited by Robert Hetzron. 378-423. London & New York: Routledge.
At risk
20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
100,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
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Second-language speakers and learners
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Semi-speakers or rememberers
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Children:
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Young adults
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Older adults
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Elders
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Ethnic or community population
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Year information was gathered
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Comments on speakers
There is a very clear distinction between the variety spoken in Dhofar and in the far east of the Yemen and the western variety. Within one and the same dialectal area there are, in addition, differences between bedouin varieties and city or village dwellers varieties. Both in Oman and in Yemen, Arabic is the language used for official intercourse (administration, school, army). Native speakers use their mother tongue for private purposes, in the family circle and with other speakers of the same language; many a speaker uses several MSAL, when these languages are closely related.
Location and Context
Countries
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Location Description
It is spoken in the mountains of Dhofar in Oman, and in the Yemen, in the far eastern Governorate, on the
coast, between the border of Oman and the eastern bank of Wadi Masilah. In the North-West of the Yemen,
Mehri is spoken as far as Thamud, on the border of the Rub' al-Khali.
Government Support
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Institutional Support
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Speakers' Attitude
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Other Languages Used By The Community
None
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
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Writing system:
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Other writing systems used:
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Comments on writing systems:
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Recent Resources
This file presents some Mehri words which are translated into Arabic and English.
The Mahri Poetry Archive contains over sixty recorded recitations and performances of poems and song
TV Report about Mehri language and Mehri People.