Wolaytta

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
wal
Alternate Names
Borodda, Ometo, Uba, Welaita, Wolaita, Wolaitta, Wolataita, Wolayta, “Ualamo” (pej.), “Uollamo” (pej.), “Walamo” (pej.), “Wallamo” (pej.), “Welamo” (pej.), “Wellamo” (pej.), “Wollamo” (pej.)
Autonym
Wolaytta
User Population

2,469,800, all users. L1 users: 2,380,000 (2018). L2 users: 89,800. 1,000,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,490,000 (2018).

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Wolaytta zone, Lake Abaya area.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

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

Zala. Dorze [doz], Melo [mfx], and Oyda [oyd] may be dialects of Wolaytta. Lexical similarity: 79%–93% with Gamo [gmv], 84% with Gofa [gof], 80% with Dawro [dwr] and Dorze [doz], 48% with Koorete [kqy], 43% with Male [mdy].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Baiso [bsw], Kachama-Ganjule [kcx].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 30%. Also taught as a major at the university level. Taught in primary and secondary schools in grades 1–4 and as subject thereafter. Taught in university as a major. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2002–2003.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Wolaytta
Writing

Ethiopic script [Ethi], primarily used by adults. Latin script [Latn], taught in school.

Other Comments

Geographic names: Balta, Borodda, Ganta, Otschollo, Uba. Traditional religion, Christian.