Language Snapshots

Kulaale (Chad) – Language Snapshot

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Abstract

Kulaale (also known as Fania), is a Bua (Adamawa, Niger-Congo) language spoken by approximately 1,000 people, who call themselves Kulaawe [kʊlááwɛ́] or Eywe [ʔèywè]. They live in a dozen villages in the southernmost part of the Guéra region in Chad. The Kulaawe are traditionally agriculturalists: they grow mainly sorghum and millet, as well as maize, groundnut, and beans. The inhabitants of the village of Tilé Nougar are additionally historically blacksmiths, and used to extract, melt, smelt, and forge iron. The Kulaawe are all Muslims today, although their conversion is relatively recent, and aspects of their pre-Islamic practices still survive. Many Kulaawe also live in towns, mostly Sarh and N’Djamena, where the language is usually not passed on to the younger generations. In general, the language and the traditions it carries are under threat due to rapid economic and demographic change in the country.

Keywords: Kulaale, Fania, Niger-Congo language, Kulaawe, Guéra region, Chad

How to Cite:

Lionnet, F., (2020) “Kulaale (Chad) – Language Snapshot”, Language Documentation and Description 17, 126-133. doi: https://doi.org/10.25894/ldd103