Sheko

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
she
Alternate Names
Shak, Shako, Shekka, Shekko, Tschako
Population

38,400 (2007 census). 13,600 monolinguals (1994 census).

Location

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Shako district.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Dizoid
Dialects

Distinct from Shabo [sbf].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix, 5 suffixes; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; passives, causatives, comparatives; CV, CVC, CVV, CV:C, CVCC; tonal, 3 tones

Language Use

4,920 L2 speakers. Home, religion, community. Some also use Amharic [amh] or Bench [bcq].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 16%. L1 pilot education classes starting (2011). Radio programs.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sheko
Writing
Latin script, used since 2008.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.