Kwegu

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
xwg
Alternate Names
Bacha, Koegu, Koyego, Kwegi, Menja, Nidi
User Population

5,110 (2007 census). 3,470 Bacha and 1,640 Koyego (2007 census). Ethnic population: 4,570 (2007 census). 2,630 Bacha and 1,940 Koyego.

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Omo river west bank, Kuchur village, and a small group north.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Surmic, South, Southeast, Kwegu
Dialects

Yidinich (Yidi, Yidinit), Muguji. Listed dialects may not be inherently intelligible with Kwegu. May be a name for several hunter groups. Lexical similarity: 36% with Mursi [muz].

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Diminishing among adults. Some of all ages. Also use Me’en [mym], particularly the Bodi dialect. Also use Mursi [muz].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 0%.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kwegu
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Seen as lower class by Bodi, Mursi, Karo, or Nyangatom. Men from these patron groups may marry Kwegu women. A small group who maintain a basically constant population.