Argobba language
Encyclopedia
Argobba is an Ethiopian Semitic
spoken in an area north-east of Addis Ababa
by the Argobba people
. It belongs to the South Ethiopian Semitic
subgroup together with Amharic
and the Gurage languages. Writing in the mid-1960s, Edward Ullendorff
noted that it "is disappearing rapidly in favour of Amharic
, and only a few hundred elderly people are still able to speak it."
The language is spoken in a number of pockets and has at least four regional variations (dialect
s) in Harar
(extinct), Aliyu Amba
, Shewa Robit
and Shonke.
Ethiopian Semitic languages
Ethiopian Semitic is a language group, which together with Old South Arabian forms the Western branch of the South Semitic languages. The languages are spoken in both Ethiopia and Eritrea...
spoken in an area north-east of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
by the Argobba people
Argobba people
The Argobba are a Muslim people group that is spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeast and east of Ethiopia. The Argobba have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area...
. It belongs to the South Ethiopian Semitic
South Ethiopian Semitic languages
South Ethiopian Semitic is a group of group of Semitic languages of Ethiopia that include Amharic and the Gurage languages.-Languages:* Transversal**Amharic–Argobba*** Amharic – national language of Ethiopia*** Argobba** Harari – East Gurage*** Harari...
subgroup together with Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
and the Gurage languages. Writing in the mid-1960s, Edward Ullendorff
Edward Ullendorff
Edward Ullendorff FBA was a British scholar and historian, especially in Semitic languages and Ethiopia.-Biography:...
noted that it "is disappearing rapidly in favour of Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
, and only a few hundred elderly people are still able to speak it."
The language is spoken in a number of pockets and has at least four regional variations (dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
s) in Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
(extinct), Aliyu Amba
Aliyu Amba
Aliyu Amba is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1805 meters above sea level....
, Shewa Robit
Shewa Robit
Shewa Robit is a town in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a longitude and latitude of with an elevation of 1280 meters above sea level...
and Shonke.