Ethiopian Semitic languages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethiopian Semitic
Geographic distribution:	Ethiopia, Eritrea
Genetic classification:	Afro-Asiatic  Semitic   South Semitic    Western     Ethiopian Semitic
Subdivisions:	North Ethiopian Semitic South Ethiopian Semitic

Ethiopian Semitic (also known as Ethiopian, Ethiosemitic, Ethiopic) is a language group which together with Old South Arabian forms the Western branch of the South Semitic languages. Today, the name Ethiopian Semitic languages can be considered a misnomer as the North languages are also found in Eritrea with two of them being exclusively used there; however, the term came into use before Eritrea had separated from Ethiopia.

• North
  • Tigrinya language
  • Tigre language
  • Ge'ez language
  • Dahlik language - "newly discovered"
• South
  • Transverse
    • Amharic language
    • Argobba language
    • Gafat language
    • Harari language
    • East Gurage languages
      • Silt'e language (Wolane, Ulbareg, Inneqor)
      • Zay language
  • Outer
    • Soddo language (Kistane)
    • West Gurage languages
      • Inor language (Ennemor, Endegen)
      • Mesmes language
      • Mesqan language
      • Sebat Bet Gurage language (Chaha, Ezha, Gumer, Gura, Gyeto, Muher)

[edit] References

• Ethnologue entry for Ethiopian Semitic languages

[edit] Links