Zul
[aka Zùl, Bi Zule, Mbarmi, Barma, Zulawa, Zull]Classification: Afro-Asiatic
·threatened
-
Threatened
20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
-
~4,000
-
"Zul was reported in older sources to be dying out and to have very few speakers. However, this appears to be wrong. There are both more speakers and the language more lively than previously thought. The number of speakers varies considerably from one source to another, but is probably about 4000."
- MORE ON VITALITY
-
"Despite earlier reports that [Zul] was declining, it seems to be thriving."
- OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
-
Hausa
- LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS
"There is, obviously, an issue with younger speakers switching to Hausa, but the language seems to be surprisingly free of Hausa loanwords."
- More on Orthography
"The Zul are split between Christian and Muslim affiliation, and so far only the Christians have shown interest in literacy. Zul has recently undergone a remarkable recovery, with a community-based reading and writing book produced (2006) and preliminary Bible translation underway."
- PLACES
- Bauchi and Toro Local Government Areas, Bauchi State, Nigeria
- ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
"Zul is spoken in some fifteen villages in Bauchi State, Bauchi and Toro LGAs [:] Zul , Zulgami , Dafasu, Nasira , Tudun Wada Baraya, Vum, Kadage, Nahuda Tintin, Tintin, Unguwar Rogo, Hakayashi, Bimiya , Balkeri , Kobonka, Ungwan Wombai"