Languages of Libya

The official language of Libya is Modern Standard Arabic. Most residents speak one of the varieties of Arabic as a first language, most prominently Libyan Arabic, but also Egyptian Arabic and Tunisian Arabic.

Languages of Libya
Ethnic composition of the Libyan population in 1974 (CIA map)
OfficialStandard Arabic
VernacularLibyan Arabic, other varieties of Arabic
Minorityvarious Berber languages, Domari, Tedaga
ForeignItalian, English
SignedLibyan Sign Language

Major language

Arabic

The official language of Libya is Arabic. The local Libyan Arabic variety is the common spoken vernacular.

Minority languages

Berber

Various Berber languages are also spoken, including Tamasheq, Ghadamès, Nafusi, Suknah and Awjilah.[1] Both Berber and Arabic languages belong to the wider Afroasiatic (Hamito-Semitic) family.

The most significant berber speaking group, the Nafusi, is concentrated in the Tripolitanian region.[2] Berber languages are also spoken in some oases, including Ghadamès, Awjilah, Sawknah. Tamahaq is spoken by the Tuareg.

Libya's former Head of State Muammar Gaddafi denied the existence of Berbers as a separate ethnicity, and called Berbers a "product of colonialism" created by the West to divide Libya. The Berber language was not recognized or taught in schools, and for years it was forbidden in Libya to give children Berber names.[3][4]

After recent uprisings in Libya, the National Transitional Council (Revolutionaries) has shown an openness towards the Berber language. The independent Revolutionaries "Libya TV", has included the Berber language and its Tifinagh alphabet in some of its programming.[5]

Domari

The Domari, an Indo-Iranian language spoken by the Dom people (ca. 33,000 speakers).

Tedaga

The Nilo-Saharan Tedaga language is spoken by the previously nomadic Teda people. The exact number of Teda is unknown.[6]

Foreign languages

English is a notable foreign language in business and for economical purposes and also spoken by the young generation.[7]

Italian is spoken in the Italian Libyan community. Number of Italians and Italian speakers has drastically diminshed since Libya's declaration of independence and mass repatriation of Italians.[8]

After the Libyan Civil War and the help coming from France, the French language gained popularity among the younger generations. French authorities expressed their interest to encourage the teaching of French in Libya.[9]

References
  1. "Libya". CIA. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  2. David Levinson (1998). Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. p. 145. ISBN 9781573560191.
  3. "Libya: Gaddafi Rails Against 'No Fly' Attacks and Berbers". allAfrica.com. 20 March 2011.
  4. "Libyan rebels seize western border crossing, as fighting in mountains intensifies". The Washington Post. 21 April 2011.
  5. Libya TV – News in Berber http://blip.tv/play/AYK4hyEC%5B%5D
  6. Languages of Libya, Ethnologue
  7. "Libye". www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  8. "Libye". www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  9. French FM Acknowledges Youths as Hope for the Future of Libya Archived 2012-09-04 at the Wayback Machine

http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/country/Libya

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