Central Cushitic languages
Encyclopedia
The Central Cushitic, or Agaw
, languages
are spoken by small groups in Ethiopia
and, in one case, Eritrea
. They form the main substratum
influence on Amharic
and other Ethiopian Semitic languages
.
There is a rich literature in Agaw but it is widely dispersed: from fascinating mediaeval texts in the Qimant language
, now mostly in Israel
i museums, to the modern, flourishing and topical in the Bilen language, with its own newspaper, based in Keren
, Eritrea
. Much historical material is also available in the Xamtanga language
, and there is a deep tradition of folklore in the Awngi language
.
Agaw
The Agaw are an ethnic group in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.-History:The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the 3rd c. AD Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century...
, languages
Cushitic languages
The Cushitic languages are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family spoken in the Horn of Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan and Egypt. They are named after the Biblical character Cush, who was identified as an ancestor of the speakers of these specific languages as early as AD 947...
are spoken by small groups in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and, in one case, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. They form the main substratum
Substratum
In linguistics, a stratum or strate is a language that influences, or is influenced by another through contact. A substratum is a language which has lower power or prestige than another, while a superstratum is the language that has higher power or prestige. Both substratum and superstratum...
influence on 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 other Ethiopian Semitic languages
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...
.
Classification
The Central Cushitic languages are classified as follows (after Appleyard):- AwngiAwngi languageThe Awngi language, in older publications also called Awiya , is a Central Cushitic language spoken by the Awi people, living in Central Gojjam in northwestern Ethiopia...
(South Agaw) spoken southwest of Lake TanaLake TanaLake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, much the largest, with over 350,000 speakers - Northern Agaw:
- Blin–Xamtanga:
-
-
- BlinBlin languageThe Blin language , Bilin or Bilen has approximately 70,000 speakers in and around the city of Keren in Eritrea. It is the only Central Cushitic language which is spoken in Eritrea....
(North) spoken in EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
around the town of KerenKeren, EritreaKeren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
(70,000 speakers) - XamtangaXamtanga languageXamtanga is a Central Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia by the Xamir people.-Vowels:The central vowels have fronted and backed allophones, depending on the adjacent consonant.-Consonants:...
(Central Agaw; also called Khamir, Khamta) 143,000 speakers in the North Amhara RegionAmhara RegionAmhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
- QimantQimant languageThe Qimant language is a highly endangered language spoken by a small and elderly fraction of the Qemant people in Northern Ethiopia mainly in Chilga Woreda in Semien Gondar Zone between Gondar and Metemma.-Classification:...
(Western Agaw) nearly extinct, spoken by the QemantQemantThe Qemant are a small ethnic group in Ethiopia, who, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel....
in Semien Gondar ZoneSemien Gondar ZoneSemien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
- Qimant
- Blin
- (dialects Qwara – nearly extinct, spoken by Beta IsraelBeta IsraelBeta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
formerly living in Qwara, now in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
; Kayla – extinct, formerly spoken by some Beta IsraelBeta IsraelBeta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
, transitional between Qimant and Xamtanga)
-
There is a rich literature in Agaw but it is widely dispersed: from fascinating mediaeval texts in the Qimant language
Qimant language
The Qimant language is a highly endangered language spoken by a small and elderly fraction of the Qemant people in Northern Ethiopia mainly in Chilga Woreda in Semien Gondar Zone between Gondar and Metemma.-Classification:...
, now mostly in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i museums, to the modern, flourishing and topical in the Bilen language, with its own newspaper, based in Keren
Keren, Eritrea
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. Much historical material is also available in the Xamtanga language
Xamtanga language
Xamtanga is a Central Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia by the Xamir people.-Vowels:The central vowels have fronted and backed allophones, depending on the adjacent consonant.-Consonants:...
, and there is a deep tradition of folklore in the Awngi language
Awngi language
The Awngi language, in older publications also called Awiya , is a Central Cushitic language spoken by the Awi people, living in Central Gojjam in northwestern Ethiopia...
.