Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
gax
Alternate Names
Afan Oromo, Booranaa, Borana, Oromiffa, Oromoo, Southern Oromo, “Galla” (pej.), “Galligna” (pej.), “Gallinya” (pej.)
Autonym
Afaan Oromoo
User Population

7,780,000 in Ethiopia (2018). 36,600,000 all Oromo speakers in Ethiopia (2018 World Factbook). Total users in all countries: 8,448,600.

Location

Afar, Amhara, and Somali regions; Oromia region: south; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Oromo
Dialects

A member of macrolanguage Oromo [orm].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; gender (masculine/feminine); case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; passives (active, middle, passive); tense and aspect; 25 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes; pitch accent.

Language Use

Used by all. Used as L2 by Ale [gwd], Girirra [gii].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 16%. Non-formal literacy classes. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1967.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji
Writing

Ethiopic script [Ethi], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

In Ethiopia, Oromo is viewed as one people who speak one language. Called Borana in Kenya where Gabra and Sakuye dialects may have significant dialect and language attitude differences from Borana dialect. Muslim, traditional religion.

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