Zenaga language (zen)

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Also Known As: Zenaga Language


Description:

Zenaga (autonym Tuḍḍungiyya) is a Berber language spoken by some 200 to 300 people (Ethnologue estimate, 1998) between Mederdra and the Atlantic coast in southwestern Mauritania. The language shares its basic structure with other Berber languages, but specific details are quite different; in fact, it is probably the most divergent surviving Berber language, with a significantly different sound system made even more distant by sound changes such as /l/ > /dj/ and /x/ > /k/, as well as a difficult to explain profusion of glottal stops. The name 'Zenaga' comes from that of a much bigger ancient Berber tribe, known to medieval Arab geographers as the Senhaja; the name "Senegal" is thought to derive from "Zenaga" as well. Zenaga was once spoken throughout much of Mauritania, but fell into decline when its speakers were defeated by the Maqil Arabs in the Char Bouba war of the 17th century. After this war, they were forbidden to bear arms, and variously became either specialists in Islamic religious scholarship or servants to more powerful tribes. It was among the former, more prestigious group that Zenaga survived longest.

In 1940 (Dubié 1940), Zenaga was spoken by about 13,000 people..... full article at Wikipedia

Location of Zenaga language Speakers

http://llmap.org/languages/zen/static_map.png?width=400&height=300&kilroywashere=.png

Rosetta Document Collection

Detailed Description:
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Grammar:
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Map:
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Numbers:
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Phonology:
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Table Of Contents:
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Vernacular Text:
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Overview

Main Country: Mauritania
Spoken In:

Regions: Africa

ISO 639-3 Code: zen

Classification Taxonomy

All Languages

  Afro-Asiatic Group

    Berber Group

      Zenaga Group

        Zenaga language