Ethiopian Semitic languages

Ethiopian Semitic (also known as Ethiosemitic or Ethiopic, or in the past as Abyssinian^[2][3]) is a language group, which forms the Western branch of the South Semitic languages. The Ethiopian Semitic languages are spoken in both Eritrea and Ethiopia, and one of these idioms, the Tigre language, is spoken in both Eritrea and Sudan. Some linguists have begun calling this group "Afro-Semitic" to avoid the exclusive focus on Ethiopia.^[4][5] However, this usage is not widespread.

The division into Northern and Southern branches was established by Cohen (1931) and Hetzron (1972) and garnered broad acceptance, but this classification has recently been challenged by Voigt.^[6]

While focused on Semitic languages as the only branch of the broader Afroasiatic languages that is also today distributed outside Africa, a recent study by Kitchen et al. proposed through the use of Bayesian computational phylogenetic techniques that "contemporary Ethiosemitic languages of Africa reflect a single introduction of early Ethiosemitic from southern Arabia approximately 2800 years ago", and that this single introduction of Ethiosemitic underwent "Rapid Diversification" within Eritrea and Ethiopia.^[7]

The Ethiopian Semitic languages all share subject–object–verb (SOV) word order as part of the Ethiopian Language Area.

Composition

Genealogy of the Ethiopian Semitic languages

• North Ethiopic
  • Ge'ez (Ethiopic, and in the farther past Abbysinian) – extinct; liturgical use in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Ethiopian Catholic Church, Eritrean Catholic Church and by the Beta Israel.^[3]
  • Tigrinya
  • Tigre
  • Dahalik
• South Ethiopic
  • Transversal
    • Amharic–Argobba
      • Amharic – national language of Ethiopia
      • Argobba
    • Harari–East Gurage
      • Harari
      • East Gurage
        • Silt'e (Silt'e; dialects Ulbare, Wolane, Inneqor)
        • Zway (Zay)
  • Outer
    • n-group:
      • Gafat – extinct
      • Soddo (Kistane)
    • tt-group:
      • Mesmes – extinct (sometimes considered Inor)
      • Muher
      • West Gurage
        • Mesqan (Masqan)
        • Sebat Bet
          • Sebat Bet Gurage (dialects Chaha, Ezha, Gumer, Gura)
          • Inor (dialects Ennemor [Inor proper], Endegegn, Gyeto)

Notes

References

• Cohen, Marcel. 1931. Études d’éthiopien méridional. Paris.
• Hetzron, Robert. 1972. Ethiopian Semitic: studies in classification. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
• Weninger, Stefan. Vom Altäthiopischen zu den neuäthiopischen Sprachen. Language Typology and Language Universals. Edited by Martin Haspelmath, Ekkehard König, Wulf Oesterreicher, Wolfgang Raible, Vol. 2: 1762-1774. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

Languages of Ethiopia
Official language	Amharic
Regional languages	Semitic Argobba Ge'ez Gurage Harari Inor Mesqan Muher Sebat Bet Gurage Silt'e Soddo Tigrinya Zay Cushitic Afar Alaba Arbore Awngi Baiso Bussa Burji Daasanach Dirasha Gawwada Gedeo Hadiyya Kambaata Konso Libido Oromo Qimant Saho Sidamo Somali Tsamai Xamtanga Omotic Aari Anfillo Bambassi Basketo Bench Boro Chara Dime Dizi Dorze Gamo-Gofa-Dawro Ganza Gayil Hamer-Banna Hozo Kachama-Ganjule Kafa Karo Koorete Maale Melo Nayi Oyda Seze Shekkacho Sheko Wolaytta Yemsa Zayse-Zergulla Nilo-Saharan Anuak Berta Daats'iin Gumuz Kacipo-Balesi Komo Kwama Kwegu Majang Me'en Murle Mursi Nuer Nyangatom Opuuo Shabo Suri Uduk
Sign languages	Ethiopian sign languages