|
|
Index / Languages
  Saudi Arabia /
Languages
|
|
Languages
Figures in 1000. |
Arabic
|
22,500 |
90.0% |
|
Najdi
|
12,500 |
50.0% |
|
Hijazi
|
9,300 |
37.0% |
|
Egyptian
|
350 |
1.4% |
|
Gulf
|
250 |
1.0% |
|
Sudanese
|
100 |
0.4% |
Tagalog
|
1,000 |
3.8% |
Urdu
|
550 |
2.2% |
Indian languages
|
170 |
0.7% |
Persian
|
140 |
0.6% |
Chinese
|
100 |
0.4% |
Korean
|
90 |
0.4% |
English
|
85 |
0.3% |
Somali
|
60 |
0.2% |
Indonesian
|
50 |
0.2% |
Shahara
|
45 |
0.2% |
Mahra
|
30 |
0.1% |
French
|
30 |
0.1% |
Italian
|
30 |
0.1% |
Circassian
|
25 |
0.1% |
|
Kabardian
|
25 |
0.1% |
Turkish
|
20 |
0.1% |
Bengali
|
15 |
0.1% |
|
Arabic is the dominant language of Saudi Arabia, although English is of great importance in business. Being such a large country, Saudi Arabia is home of several major dialects, but a few of them are a result of immigration in modern times.
The two largest dialects, Najdi and Hijazi, reflect that Saudi Arabia is a country consisting of two former states. Najdi has its heartland in the northern half along the Red Sea, Hijazi is spoken in the regions south of the Najdi region. Gulf Arabic is also native to Saudi Arabia, belonging to the northern coast, but in this region, internal migration has made Najdi and Hijazi dominant.
Of the many foreign languages spoken in Saudi Arabia, these have in reality no influence on the nation as a whole, they are spoken only between work immigrants, who again use English, or Arabic, to communicate with other nationals or Saudis Arabians. Circassian is spoken by nationals of Saudi Arabia.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
|
|
|
