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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Somalia > Somali

Somali

A language of Somalia

ISO 639-3: som

Population  8,340,000 in Somalia (2006). Population total all countries: 13,871,700.
Region  Widespread. Also in Canada, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Finland, Italy, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Yemen.
Language map  Somalia
Alternate names   Af-Maxaad Tiri, Af-Soomaali, Common Somali, Standard Somali
Dialects  Northern Somali, Benaadir, Af-Ashraaf (Ashraaf). Northern Somali is basis for Standard Somali. Readily intelligible to Benaadir Somali speakers, but difficult or unintelligible to most Maay [ymm]. Those in Merka and Muqdisho speak Af-Ashraaf, a distinct variety which may have limited inherent intelligibility with Standard Somali.
Classification  Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Language use  Official language. The language of most of the people of the country. Also use Arabic [arb] or Italian.
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 25% in cities, 10% rural. Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1979.
Writing system  Arabic script, no longer in use. Latin script, used since 1972. Osmanya script.
Comments  SOV. Pastoralists; agriculturalists: sugar, bananas, sorghum, corn, gum, incense; miners: iron, tin, gypsum, bauxite, uranium. Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Djibouti

Language name   Somali
Population  297,000 in Djibouti (2006).
Language map  Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, reference number 75
Comments  Nomadic. 3 clans: Issa, Gadaboursi, Issaq. Pastoralists. Muslim.
 

Ethiopia

Language name   Somali
Population  3,960,000 in Ethiopia (2006). 2,878,371 monolinguals.
Region  Southeast, Somali region.
Language map  Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, reference number 75
Alternate names  Common Somali, Standard Somali
Language use  95,572 L2 speakers. Few also use Amharic [amh] or Arabic [apd].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 7%.
Comments  Daarood, Ogaadeen, Dir, Gadabuursi, Hawiye, and Isxaaq are major clan families in Ethiopia. Agriculturalists. Muslim, Christian.
 

Kenya

Language name   Somali
Population  420,000 in Kenya (2000 WCD), increasing. 45,098 Somali, 27,244 Hawiyah, 100,400 Degodia, 139,597 Ogaden (1989 census).
Region  Northeastern Province, Wajir area.
Language map  Kenya, reference number 50
Alternate names  Standard Somali
Dialects  Degodia, Ogaden.
Language use  GIDS 6 in Kenya. Home, social gatherings. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Kiswahili [swh] or some English.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: Somali: 15%–25%, Ogaadeen: 1%.
Comments  Daarood, Dir, Hawiye, Ogaadeen are nomadic clan families in Kenya. Dialect differences cut across clan differences. Pastoralists: camel, sheep, goats. Muslim.