Language Information by Source

Sociolinguistic survey report of the Argobba language of Ethiopia

Zelealem Leyew and Ralph Siebert. 2001. "Sociolinguistic Survey Report of the Argobba Language of Ethiopia." SIL International. Online: http://www-01.sil.org/silesr/2002/026/SILESR2002-026.pdf.

Severely Endangered
60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Speaker Number Trends

Speaker Number Trend 4

Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.

4
Transmission

Transmission 4

Many of the grandparent generation speak the language, but younger people generally do not.

4

Speakers

Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
~40,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
No results found.

Location and Context

Countries
Ethiopia
Location Description

"Fragmented areas along Rift Valley in settlements such as Yimlawo, Gusa, Shonke, Berket, Keramba, Mellajillo, Metehara. Villages in the Shonke area where Shewa-Robit Argobba is spoken are the following: Abdelager, Akiager, Goze, Hudad, Kilegirma, K'imbibit, Lench'u-ager, Meriye, T'eyo, T'ak'war, Ts'akolu, and Zehonka. There is only one more village in the Shonke area where Shonke Argobba is spoken: T'olaha."

Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Amharic, Oromo
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All
Domains of Other Languages:
None

Writing Systems

Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
None
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
"[An Argobba consultant] told us that in the past he had made some attempts to write his own language (Shewa-Robit Argobba), using the Arabic script."

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