Gumuz

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
guk
Alternate Names
Bega, Bega-Tse, Debatsa, Debuga, Dehenda, Gombo, Gumis, Gumuzinya, Mendeya, “Shankilligna” (pej.), “Shankillinya” (pej.), “Shanqilla” (pej.), Sigumza
Population

179,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). 88,200 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 219,000.

Location

Metemma area on Sudan border south through Gondar and Gojjam; along Blue Nile and south into Wellaga and Didessa valley up to Leqemt-Gimbi road; southwest of Addis Ababa, Welqite area villages (possibly 1,000). Also in Sudan.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Komuz, Gumuz
Dialects

Agalo, Dibate, Guba, Mandura, Metemma, Sirba, Wenbera, Yaso. Noticeable dialect differences, and not all dialects are inherently intelligible. Mandura, Dibate, and Metemma form a distinct dialect subgroup.

Typology

SVO; verb affixes show person, number of subject, first plural inclusive and exclusive; tonal, 3 tones

Language Use

4,379 L2 speakers. Limited comprehension of Eastern Oromo [hae].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 6%. NT: 2003.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gumuz
Writing
Ethiopic script, no longer in use. Latin script, used since 2007, official usage.
Other Comments

Connections between villages for intermarriage and trade. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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