Gofa

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Goffa

Population

363,000 (2007 census), increasing. 190,000 monolinguals.

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Gamo-Gofa zone.

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification

Dialects

Lexical similarity: 79%–91% with Gamo [gmv], 76% with Dawro [dwr].

Typology

SOV; derived nouns formed by suffixation of verbs; passives; case suffixes; postpositions; tonal

Language Use

Neutral attitudes.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 19%. Church-based literacy program started 2007. NT: 2011.

Language Resources

Writing

Ethiopic script, used in Church literature. Latin script, official usage.