Aari language

Infobox Language
name=Aari
states=Ethiopia
region=north central Omo Region
speakers=158,857 (1998 census)
129,350 monolinguals
iso2=afa
iso3=aiz
familycolor=Afro-Asiatic
fam1=Afro-Asiatic
fam2=Omotic
fam3=South

Aari (also spelled Ari, Ara, Aro, Aarai) is an Omotic language of Ethiopia. The speakers of this language are also known as Shankilla (or Shanqella), a name which is considered derogatory. According to the 1998 census, over 150,000 people speak Aari as a mother tongue. [Raymond G. Gordon, Jr, ed. 2005. "Ethnologue: Languages of the World". 15th edition. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.]

There are many dialects including Gozza, Bako, Biyo, Galila, Laydo, Seyki, Shangama, Sido, Wubahamer, and Zeddo.

Literacy in Aari is less than 1%. The New Testament was first published in the language in 1997.

Notes

Bibliography

* Richard Hayward. 1990. "Notes on the Aari Language," "Omotic Language Studies". Ed. Richard Hayward. London: SOAS.

External links

* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aiz Ethnologue report on Aari]
* [http://www.carolynford.org/aari/index.shtml The Aari people] (missionary report)