Also Known As:
Naya, Na'o, Nao
Dialects & Varieties
Ethnic Language Shift of Nao
Samson Seid. 2012. "Ethnic Language Shift of Nao."
Severely Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
7,188
Native Speakers Worldwide
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
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
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
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"The younger generation in Nao has developed (for a great extent) a negative attitude towards their language. In most cases they try to avoid using Nao language. [...] This is largely because they considered their language has less impact and influence outside home domain. Some parents fear that speaking Nao at home will slow the child acquisition of the more economically valuable language."
Location and Context
Countries
Ethiopia
Location Description
"Most of the speakers of the language live in two separated areas. The largest grouping live in Decha district (woreda) of the Kaffa Zone. The nearest city to their region is Bonga. A few in Dulkuma village of the Shoa Bench woreda, some in Sheko woreda"
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
FM radio show in Nao three hours per week
Speakers' Attitude
Mixed; negative among younger people
Other Languages Used By The Community
Kefinoono, Amharic
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All but 1,137 monolinguals
Domains of Other Languages:
Kefinoono in the market, schools, home, neighborhood; Kefinoono or Amharic in religious services and workplaces
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
None
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
"One can clearly argue that Nao is a highly endangered language with no writing system."
Recent Resources
The focus of this paper is on language shift of Nao, a minority language spoken in South West of Eth