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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Multilingualism in Koegu: Interethnic Relationships and Languages
Author:Hieda, OsamuISNI
Year:1996
Periodical:Senri Ethnological Studies
Issue:43
Pages:145-161
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:Kwegu
multilingualism
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Ethnic and Race Relations
Abstract:The Koegu are a small ethnic group numbering some 500 who live in southwestern Ethiopia. Approximately 300 Koegu speak Koegu (Surmic) as their primary language. They live in Kuchur village, where the author conducted fieldwork in three three-month periods in 1987-1988, 1989 and 1990. Besides their primary language, the Koegu speak Kara (Omotic) and Nyangatom (Nilotic) as second languages. Until quite recently, the Koegu were in alliance with the Kara. However, that alliance has been broken and they are now in alliance with the Nyangatom (Bume). The author examines Koegu multilingualism in light of the relationship between the Koegu and the Kara and the Nyangatom. He analyses actual and perceived linguistic competence in the two second languages among Koegu-speaking males and females of different ages, and their choice of language use according to type of listener and topic of conversation. He explains the linguistic phenomena observed in terms of interethnic relationships and concludes that when two languages come into contact, it is not the structure of the individual languages but the relationship between the two societies that is determinative. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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