Guraferdan Sheko: linguistic treasures of a forgotten dialect
The Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants worldwide to for the linguistic documentation of endangered language and knowledge. Grantees create multimedia collection of endangered languages. These collections are preserved and made freely available through the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) housed at the library of SOAS University of London.
The variety of Sheko spoken by an estimated nine thousand people in Guraferda, SW-Ethiopia, differs drastically from the main variety. However, an influx of settlers with a dominant language and culture accelerates changes in language use. This project aims to document the socio-linguistic context of Guraferdan Sheko and its endangered genres of speech. On the basis of the documentation, I will also investigate clause type marking, a typologically salient aspect of Omotic languages.
Primary investigator: Anne-Christie Hellenthal
Project Details
Location: Ethiopia, Eastern Africa, Africa
Organiser(s):
Endangered Languages Documentation Programme
Project partner(s): Leiden University
Funder(s):
Arcadia
Funding received: £5,496.00
Commencement Date: 01/2009
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