Male

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Maale

Population

94,746 (2007 census). 40,660 monolinguals.

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), North Omo zone, southeast of Jinka.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

Lexical similarity: 48% with Dorze [doz], 46% with Gofa [gof], 45% with Koorete [kqy], 44% with Gamo [gmv], 43% with Wolaytta [wal] and Dawro [dwr].

Typology

SOV

Language Use

6,730 L2 speakers. Home.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5%. Interest in Male literature.

Language Resources

Writing

Ethiopic script.

Other Comments

Different from Malo (see Zayse).