Suri, Tirmaga-Chai

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A language of Ethiopia

Alternate Names

Churi, Dama, Dhuri, Eastern Suri, Shuri, Shuro, Suri, Surma, Tirma-Chai

Surichɛn

User Population

26,900 (2007 census), increasing. 24,200 monolinguals (2017).

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Bench-Maji zone, toward Sudan border; west of Mizan Teferi.

Language Maps

Southwestern Ethiopia

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Surmic, South, Southeast, Pastoral, Suri

Tirmaga (Cirma, Dirma, Terema, Terna, Tid, Tirima, Tirma, Tirmagachen, Tirmagi), Chai (Caci, Cai, Chachen). Lexical similarity: 81% with Mursi [muz].

SVO.

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Kacipo-Bale Suri [koe].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Kindergarten program using Suri as medium of instruction is piloted (2021 SIL). Taught as subject in primary schools in grades 1–4. After-school Suri literacy classes teach some school subjects in Suri. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 2004–2010.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Suri, Tirmaga-Chai

Ethiopic script [Ethi], used until 2009. Latin script [Latn], used since 2009, official usage.

Traditional religion, Christian.