TIGRIGNA: a language of Ethiopia

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: TGN

ISO 639-2: tir

Population	3,224,875 mother tongue speakers, 146,933 second language speakers, 3,284,568 in the ethnic group, 2,819,755 monolinguals in Ethiopia (1998 census). Population total all countries 5,135,000.
Region	Tigray province. Also spoken in Eritrea, Israel.
Alternate names	TIGRINYA, TIGRAY
Classification	Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North.
Comments	Speakers are called 'Tigrai.' National language. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 26.5%. Ethiopic script. Christian. Bible 1956.

Also spoken in:

Eritrea

Language name	TIGRIGNA
Population	1,900,000 in Eritrea (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	TIGRINYA, TIGRAY
Comments	People have suffered from recent famines. Official language. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 5% to 25%. Ethiopic script. Christian, Muslim. Bible 1956. See main entry under Ethiopia.

Israel

Language name	TIGRIGNA
Population	10,000 in Israel (1994 H. Mutzafi).
Alternate names	TIGRINYA
Comments	Bilingualism in Amharic, Hebrew. Called 'Falashas', which they consider to be pejorative. They call themselves 'Beta Israel'. Their liturgy is written in Geez. Ethiopic script. Radio programs. Jewish. Bible 1956. See main entry under Ethiopia.