Dawro

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
dwr
Alternate Names
Dauro, Dawragna, Dawrogna, Dawuro, Ometay, “Cullo” (pej.), “Kullo” (pej.)
User Population

533,000, all users. L1 users: 513,000 (2007 census). 81,600 Konta (2007 census). L2 users: 20,000. 260,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 538,000 (2007 census). 83,600 Konta (2007 census).

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Dawro zone; 2 small border areas in Oromia region.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Gonga-Gimojan, Gimojan, Ometo-Gimira, Ometo, Central
Dialects

Konta (Conta), Kucha (Koysha, Kusha). Lexical similarity: 73%–80% with Gamo [gmv], 76% with Gofa [gof], 80% with Wolaytta [wal], 73%–75% with Dorze [doz], 48% with Koorete [kqy], 43% with Male [mdy].

Typology

SOV; derived nouns formed by suffixation of verbs; passives; case suffixes; postpositions; tonal.

Language Use

Neutral attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Chara [cra].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 24%. Church-based literacy program started 2007. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 4 and as subject thereafter. NT: 2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dawro
Writing

Ethiopic script [Ethi], used in Church literature. Latin script [Latn], official usage.