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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Ethiopia > Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639-3: gax

Population	3,630,000 in Ethiopia. Population total all countries: 3,823,600.
Region	South Oromo region. Also in Kenya, Somalia.
Language maps	Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, reference number 17 Southwestern Ethiopia, reference number 17
Alternate names	Afan Oromo, “Galla” , “Galligna” , “Gallinya” , Southern Oromo
Dialects	Borana (Boran, Borena), Arsi (Arussi, Arusi), Guji (Gujji, Jemjem), Kereyu, Salale (Selale), Gabra (Gabbra, Gebra). Harari [har] is closely related.
Classification	Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Oromo A member of macrolanguage Oromo [orm] (Ethiopia).
Language use	In Ethiopia, Oromo is viewed as one people speaking one language. In Kenya, the Gabra and Sakuye dialects may have significant dialect and language attitude differences from the Boran dialect.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 16%. Bible: 1995.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	Called ‘Borana’ in Kenya. SOV. Muslim, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Kenya

Language name	Borana
Population	152,000 in Kenya (1994 I. Larsen), increasing. 96,000 Borana (1994), 43,000 Gabra (1994), 13,000 Sakuye (1994).
Region	Eastern Province, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale districts.
Language map	Kenya, reference number 2
Alternate names	Boran, Booran, Boraan, Southern Oromo, Oromo, “Galla”
Dialects	Boran, Gabbra (Gabra, Gebra), Sakuye (Saguye).
Language use	The Gabra and Sakuye (Saguye) ethnic groups use Borana as L1. Also spoken by younger Burji around Marsabit and Moyale. Some Garre and Ajuran speak Borana as L1, others Somali [som]. GIDS 6. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitude. Some also use Kiswahili [swh] or English.
Comments	‘Borana’ is used almost exclusively in Kenya, but ‘Oromo’ in Ethiopia. Seminomadic. Pastoralists: camel, cattle. Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

Somalia

Language name	Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji
Population	41,600 in Somalia (2000).
Region	Gedo region.
Alternate names	Southern Oromo
Dialects	Borana (Booran, Boran).
Comments	The Oromo variety in Gedo is probably Borana; that in the Lower Jubba region is probably Orma. The Oromo spoken in the Lower Jubba region may actually be Orma [orc]. The Orma controlled that area until the mid or late 19th century. They move from lower Tana River inland toward Kitui District during rainy season. Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

LANDER, Dorothea; LANDER, James A., authors. 1991. ‘Cut and paste’ literacy.

WEDEKIND, Klaus; YILMA, Aklilu, authors. 2002. "Oromo sentence repetition test and its development."  

Vernacular Publications

Afaan oromoo, dubbisii barreessi kitaaba 1 and 2. 2001.

Afaan Oromoo: seenaa, kitaaba 1 and 2. 1999.

Dʼukuba allbaati. 1998.

Guyyo Maafi ato kaimatu yoosu due?. 1998.

Ifiin if barsiis. 2004.

Koota indaawwannaa. 1995.

Odu jaallowani afurii. 1998.

Oduuni soora guraa. 1997.