Apollo International Exhibitions - | Yemen Guide

Nearly all Yemenis speak Arabic. However, the country's extremely rugged terrain, widely separated population centers, and less-developed means of transportation and communications have produced several dialectical differences. The most notable difference exists between the dialect of the northern Yemeni highlands and that of Aden and the southern part of the former North Yemen .

Brief Summary:

Republic of Yemen , al-Jumhurïyah al-Yamaniyah. National or official language: Standard Arabic. 16,887,000 (1998 UN). Literacy rate 25% to 39%. Also includes Egyptian Spoken Arabic 10,000, Gulf Spoken Arabic 10,000, Western Cham, Hindi 232,760, Hobyót, Somali 290,000, people from Africa 28,000, India and Pakistan 65,000. Information mainly from T. Sebeok 1970; R.F. Nyrop 1986; T.M. Johnstone 1987. Sunni Muslim, Zaydi Muslim, Ismaili Muslim, Christian, Hindu, secular, Jewish. Deaf population 1,052,571. Data accuracy estimate: B. The number of languages listed for Yemen is 7. Of those, all are living languages. Diversity index 0.56.

Spoken Living Laguanges

ARABIC, HADRAMI SPOKEN

[AYH] 300,000 in Yemen (1995). Population total all countries 410,000. Alternate names: HADROMI, HADRAMI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
More information.

ARABIC, JUDEO-YEMENI

[JYE] 1,000 in Yemen (1995 H. Mutzafi).   Alternate names: JUDEO-YEMENI, YEMENITE JUDEO-ARABIC. Dialects: SAN<A, < ADEN , BE:DA, HABBAN. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
More information.

ARABIC, SANAANI SPOKEN

[AYN] 7,600,000 (1996).  Extends as far south as Dhamar, about 14.4 degrees north. Alternate names: NORTHERN YEMENI ARABIC. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
More information.

ARABIC, STANDARD

[ABV]    Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
More information.

ARABIC, TA'IZZI-ADENI SPOKEN

[ACQ] 6,760,000 in Yemen (1996). Population total all countries 6,840,000. Alternate names: SOUTHERN YEMENI SPOKEN ARABIC. Dialects: TA'IZZI, ADENI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
More information.

MEHRI

[MHR] 58,000 in Yemen . Population total all countries 100,000 (1997 Hetzron). Alternate names: MAHRI. Dialects: WESTERN MEHRI (MEHRIYET), EASTERN MEHRI (MEHRIYOT). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian.
More information.

SOQOTRI

[SQT] 70,000 (1990 census).  Mainly in Soqotra Island , hundreds in <Abd al-Kuri island, and about a dozen in Samha Island in the Gulf of Aden . Alternate names: SAQATRI, SOKOTRI, SUQUTRI, SOCOTRI. Dialects: <ABD AL-KURI, SOUTHERN SOQOTRI, NORTHERN SOQOTRI, CENTRAL SOQOTRI, WESTERN SOQOTRI . Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian.
More information.

Spoken Living Laguanges ARABIC, HADRAMI SPOKEN	[AYH] 300,000 in Yemen (1995). Population total all countries 410,000. Alternate names: HADROMI, HADRAMI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. More information.
ARABIC, JUDEO-YEMENI	[JYE] 1,000 in Yemen (1995 H. Mutzafi). Alternate names: JUDEO-YEMENI, YEMENITE JUDEO-ARABIC. Dialects: SAN<A, < ADEN , BE:DA, HABBAN. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. More information.
ARABIC, SANAANI SPOKEN	[AYN] 7,600,000 (1996). Extends as far south as Dhamar, about 14.4 degrees north. Alternate names: NORTHERN YEMENI ARABIC. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. More information.
ARABIC, STANDARD	[ABV] Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. More information.
ARABIC, TA'IZZI-ADENI SPOKEN	[ACQ] 6,760,000 in Yemen (1996). Population total all countries 6,840,000. Alternate names: SOUTHERN YEMENI SPOKEN ARABIC. Dialects: TA'IZZI, ADENI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic. More information.
MEHRI	[MHR] 58,000 in Yemen . Population total all countries 100,000 (1997 Hetzron). Alternate names: MAHRI. Dialects: WESTERN MEHRI (MEHRIYET), EASTERN MEHRI (MEHRIYOT). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian. More information.
SOQOTRI	[SQT] 70,000 (1990 census). Mainly in Soqotra Island , hundreds in <Abd al-Kuri island, and about a dozen in Samha Island in the Gulf of Aden . Alternate names: SAQATRI, SOKOTRI, SUQUTRI, SOCOTRI. Dialects: <ABD AL-KURI, SOUTHERN SOQOTRI, NORTHERN SOQOTRI, CENTRAL SOQOTRI, WESTERN SOQOTRI . Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian. More information.