Gofa

Primary tabs

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Goffa

Population

363,000 (2007 census), increasing. 190,000 monolinguals. L2 users: 33,400.

Location

YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch State, Gamo-Gofa zone.

Language Maps

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 79%–91% with Gamo [gmv], 76% with Dawro [dwr].

Typology

SOV; derived nouns formed by suffixation of verbs; passives; case suffixes; postpositions; tonal.

Language Use

Neutral attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Baiso [bsw].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 19%. Church-based literacy program started 2007. NT: 2011.

Language Resources

Writing

Ethiopic script [Ethi], used in Church literature. Latin script [Latn], official usage.