| Population |
979,367 mother tongue speakers, 22,848 second language users, 979,367 in the ethnic group, 905,872 monolinguals in Ethiopia (1998 census). Population total all countries 1,579,000. |
| Region |
Eastern lowlands, Afar Region. May also be in Somalia. Also spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea. |
| Alternate names |
AFARAF, 'DANAKIL', 'DENKEL', <AFAR AF, ADAL |
| Dialects |
NORTHERN AFAR, CENTRAL AFAR, AUSSA, BAADU (BA<ADU). |
| Classification |
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Saho-Afar. |
| Comments |
Saho is related but distinct. Bilingualism in Arabic. The people are called 'Danakil' in Arabic and by others, but that is considered to be offensive by the Afar; called 'Adal' in Amharic. Nomadic. People have suffered from recent famines. Dictionary. Grammar. SOV. Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 3%. Desert. Coastal. Muslim, Christian. NT 1994. |
| Djibouti |
| Language name |
AFAR |
| Population |
300,000 in Djibouti (1996), 55.23% of the population (1996). |
| Alternate names |
AFARAF, 'DANAKIL' |
| Comments |
Saho is a distinct language. The people are called 'Danakil' by others, but this is considered offensive. Nomadic. Literacy rate in second language: Largely none. Radio programs. Desert. Mountains. Pastoralists. Muslim. NT 1994. See main entry under Ethiopia. |
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| Eritrea |
| Language name |
AFAR |
| Population |
300,000 in Eritrea (1993 Johnstone). |
| Alternate names |
AFARAF, 'DANAKIL', 'DENKEL' |
| Dialects |
CENTRAL AFAR, NORTHERN AFAR, AUSSA, BA'ADU. |
| Comments |
Saho is related but distinct. Bilingualism in Arabic. The people are called 'Danakil' by others, but that is considered to be offensive by the Afar. Nomadic. People have suffered from recent famines. SOV. Literacy rate in second language: 8%. Muslim, Christian. NT 1994. See main entry under Ethiopia. |
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