Ethnologue.com home

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
16th edition

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
US$ 100.00
Add to cart

Preview print edition

Most Recent
SIL Publications
Reduced Price SIL Publications


ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Eritrea > Saho

Saho

A language of Eritrea

ISO 639-3: ssy

Population  191,000 in Eritrea (2006). Population total all countries: 213,800.
Region  South. Also in Ethiopia.
Language map  Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, reference number 67
Alternate names   Sao, Shaho, Shiho, Shoho
Dialects  Very similar to Afar [aar]. The Irob dialect is only in Ethiopia.
Classification  Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Saho-Afar
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1964.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Ethnic group names are Asa’orta, Hadu (Hazu), Miniferi. Nomadic. Do not accept outsiders. SOV. Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Ethiopia

Language name   Saho
Population  22,800 in Ethiopia (1994 census).
Region  Tigray Province.
Language map  Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia, reference number 67
Alternate names  Sao, Shaho, Shiho, Shoho
Dialects  Irob.
Language use  3,378 L2 speakers. Outsiders not accepted.
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: High.
Comments  Ethnic group names are Asa’orta, Hadu (Hazu), Miniferi. They have suffered from recent famines. Irob are not nomadic. Christian, Muslim.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

ABRAHA, John; BARIAGHABER, Tesfai; BEYED, Sullus; HAMMADU, Osman; MAHMUD, Saleh; MOHAMMED, Ibrahim; TECLEMARIAM, Daniel; WEDEKIND, Charlotte; WEDEKIND, Klaus, authors. 1997. Eritrea Dialect Survey (December 1996-May 1997) Report.

ABUSHUSH, Dawd Adem; ASHKABA, John Abraha; AWED, Sulus Beyed; DAVIS, Patricia M.; GHEBREMEDHIN, Tesfai Bariagaber; HAMMADU, Osman; HOATSON, Kristen; HOATSON, Todd; IDRIS, Saleh Mahmud; MOHAMMED, Ibrahim; OKBATSION, Solomon Berhane; OSMAN ALI, Mohammed; TEKRURAY, Daniel Teclemariam; WALTER, Stephen L., authors. 2005. Eritrea national reading survey, September 2002.