1,800,000 or more (1995). Recognized by the United Nations during the interim period, based on the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles of 1993. Also includes Levantine Bedawi Spoken Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew 200,000 (1995). Data accuracy estimate: B. Information mainly from United Nations Year Book 1993. Muslim, Christian, Samaritan. The number of languages listed for Palestinian West Bank and Gaza is 5. Of those, 3 are living languages and 2 are extinct.
ARABIC, LEVANTINE BEDAWI SPOKEN (BEDAWI) [AVL] 10,000 in Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (1996); 1,600,000 all countries. Judean desert and along the Jordan River. Also in Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. Dialects: SOUTH LEVANTINE BEDAWI ARABIC, NORTH LEVANTINE BEDAWI ARABIC, NORTHEAST EGYPTIAN BEDAWI ARABIC. Sunni Muslim. Survey needed.
ARABIC, SOUTH LEVANTINE SPOKEN (LEVANTINE ARABIC, PALESTINIAN-JORDANIAN ARABIC) [AJP] 1,600,000 in Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (1996); 6,155,000 in all countries. Also in Jordan, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Egypt, Argentina. Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. Dialects: MADANI, FELLAHI. Distinct from North Levantine (Lebanese-Syrian) Arabic. Muslim, Christian. Bible portions 1940-1973. Survey needed.
ARABIC, STANDARD [ABV] Middle East, North Africa. Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. Used for education, official purposes, books, newspapers, formal seeches. Bible 1984-1991. NT 1980-1982. Bible portions 1984.
SAMARITAN (SAMARITAN HEBREW) [SMP] (560 ethnic Samaritans; 1994). West bank near Nablus and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite. They use Samaritan Hebrew mainly and Samaritan Aramaic secondarily as liturgical languages. About one-third live near Nablus and speak Palestinian Arabic as mother tongue. Others live near Tel Aviv and speak Hebrew as mother tongue. They call themselves 'Shamerim'. samaritan-Hebrew script is used. Samaritan religion, close to Judaism. Bible 1853. Bible portions 1632-1965. Extinct.
SAMARITAN ARAMAIC [SRA] (560 ethnic Samaritans; 1994). West bank near Nablus and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Western. The language ceased to be spoken as mother tongue in the 10th to 12th centuries A.D. They use Samaritan Hebrew mainly and Samaritan Aramaic secondarily as liturgical languages. About one-third live near Nablus and speak Palestinian Arabic as mother tongue. Others live near Tel Aviv and speak Hebrew as mother tongue. They call themselves 'Shamerim'. Samaritan religion, close to Judaism. Extinct.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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