Faifi language

Faifi (Fifi) is an Old South Arabian language spoken by about 50,000 people[2] in the vicinity of Mount Faifa (Jebel Fayfa) in the southwestern corner of Saudi Arabia. Along with Razihi, it is the only surviving descendant of the Old South Arabian languages.

Faifi
Fifi
Al-fayfiyah
Native toSaudi Arabia
RegionJebel Fayfa
Native speakers
50,000 (2019)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3fif
GlottologNone

It is considered an endangered language[2] and has not been thoroughly studied. Scholars are documenting it urgently as the language's home region is diversifying and as younger speakers move elsewhere and are influenced by other languages. The region was previously isolated from most travelers and other communities. The youngest speakers are around 45 years old and may have moved, while the oldest speakers are around 90 years old, with the older members above 60 years never having left the region.

Faifi differs from Modern Standard Arabic in various ways.

References
  1. ISO 639-3 Change Request Documentation: 2019-041, SIL
  2. Alfaife, Saleem Mohammed (May 2018). A grammar of Faifi (Master of Arts thesis). Long Beach, California: California State University. Abstract. ISBN 978-0-438-05160-7 – via PQDT Open.
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