Konso

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
kxc
Alternate Names
Conso, Gato, Khonso, Komso
Autonym
Afaa Xonso, አፈ ኾንሶ‎ (äfä honəso)
User Population

247,660 in Ethiopia, all users. L1 users: 242,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census), increasing. L2 users: 5,660. 139,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 251,000 (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 248,960 (as L1: 243,300; as L2: 5,660).

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Konso zone south of Lake Chamo, near Segen River bend.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Konso-Gidole
Dialects

Kholme, Duuro, Fasha, Karatti (Af Kareti, Afa Karatti, Karate, Kareti). Lexical similarity: 55% with Dirasha [gdl], 51% with Mositacha [dox], 41% with Ale [gwd], 31% with Tsamai [tsb].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Ale [gwd], Arbore [arv], Dirasha [gdl], Mositacha [dox], Ongota [bxe], Tsamai [tsb].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50% (2018 Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus). Literacy rate in L2: 25%. Taught in primary schools in grades 1–4. Literature. Radio. NT: 2002.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Konso
Writing

Ethiopic script [Ethi], used in Church literature. Latin script [Latn], developed in the 1990s, common usage since 2014, official usage.

Other Comments

Gato is a town on both sides of Gatto River; those living on Konso side speak a dialect of Konso; those on Gidole side speak a dialect of Dirasha [gdl]. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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