Kwegu

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A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3
xwg
Alternate Names
Bacha, Koegu, Kwegi, Menja, Nidi
Population

1,640 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 2,630 Bacha (2007 census).

Location

Southwest, Omo River west bank, Kuchur village, and a small group north.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Eastern, Surmic, South, Southeast, Kwegu
Dialects

Muguji, Yidinich (Yidi, Yidinit). Listed dialects may not be inherently intelligible with Kwegu. May be a name for several hunter groups. Lexical similarity: 36% with Mursi [muz].

Typology

SVO; postpositions

Language Use

Diminishing among adults. 51 L2 speakers. Also use the Bodi dialect of Me’en [mym] or Mursi [muz].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 0%.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kwegu
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

Seen as lower class by Bodi, Mursi, Karo, or Nyangatom. Men from these patron groups may marry Kwegu women. A small group who maintain a basically constant population.