Ale
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A language of Ethiopia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Dabosse, Debase, Dobase, Dullay, Gobeze, Qawko, Werizoid, “Gauwada” (pej.), “Gawata” (pej.), “Gawwada” (pej.), “Gewada” (pej.), “Kawwad’a” (pej.), “Kawwada” (pej.)
Autonym
Ale (Ale)
Population
85,670, all users. L1 users: 84,300 (2017). L2 users: 1,370. 27,500 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 68,600 (2007 census).
Location
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Segen zone, west of Lake Chamo.
Language Maps
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Dialects
Tihinte (Dihina), Gargarte (K’ark’arte), Dobase (Gobeze), Golango (Kollanko, Wollango), Gorroze, Harse (Worase). Lexical similarity: 78% with Bussa [dox], 73% with Tsamai [tsb], 77% with the Harso dialect, 92% with the Gollango dialect, 41% with Konso [kxc]. The Harso dialect has 80% lexical similarity with the Dobase dialect of Bussa [dox], 56% with Tsamai [tsb].
Typology
SOV; 26 consonants and 5 vowels; vowel gemination; verbs are polysynthetic.
Language Use
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 22%. First grade pilot classes started November 2017.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn], minimal usage.