Fascinating Languages of EthiopiaPosted by Connor Weiner on May 23rd, 2021 Fascinating Languages of Ethiopia Many countries in the world are made up of different tribes and people. Often there is a main group and several minority groups. As an example we can mention Thailand with their different mountain tribes, Sweden with the Sapmi people in the north, and the Indians in Mexico. Sometimes we only hear about these minority groups when there are political problems. While these countries have one official language, the minority groups often speak a completely different language. Oftentimes, in an effort to oppress these minority groups, it has been forbidden to speak other languages but the official one. Unfortunately, this led to some languages almost becoming extinct, only spoken by the older generation. Others are spoken, but not written. This trend is changing now in many places. Now, many countries encourage, or at least allow, other languages to be used. This has been the fact in Ethiopia, a country in East Africa. The population of Ethiopia is about 80 million, and some 80 languages are spoken! To this, add the dialects! Before, only one language was used all over the country, but this has now changed. Several of the these languages are now used in the local schools, according to region. While not being the language of the majority, Amharic has long been the official language of Ethiopia. It is spoken as first language by approximately 25 million people, but many more millions speak it as a second or third language. There are two other main languages in Ethiopia, Oromiffa and Tigrinya. At first glance, Amharic looks very difficult since it is not written in Latin letters, but in a special, syllabic, Abugida, alphabet. This sounds difficult, but it is not too difficult for foreigners to learn. It is a phonetic alphabet, what you see is what you read. Since English is widely known in Ethiopia, it is not absolutely necessary to learn Amharic. There are special courses for people who want to learn this, and other Ethiopian languages, for different reasons. It is very interesting with this diversity of languages. Learning about other people involves learning something about their language. Not to speak it, of course, but a bit about its roots and development. What does a person mean when saying certain things? How are feelings expressed in his language? This can help get an idea about the person who speaks this language. After all, language is an important part of our culture. Having travelled extensively for the past 25 years, I have encountered numerous people and cultures. My opinion is that we can learn something from eachother. When I like something, whether a custom or the food, I incorporate it into my life. Apart from travelling, I have actually lived in four countries. This has sometimes been a challenge, especially with the language, but I feel it has truly enriched my life. Now, I like to share my experiences with others. Job Vacancies EthiopiaLike it? Share it! |