The documentation of Ongota: a linguistic isolate of a hunter-gatherer community in Southwest Ethiopia
The Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants worldwide for the documentation of endangered languages and knowledge. Grantees create audiovisual collections with transcription and translations of endangered languages and practices. These collections are preserved and made freely available through the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR).
| Ongota is the traditional language of a hunter-gatherer community in Ethiopia. It is being abandoned in favour of neighbouring Ts'amakko (Cushitic) and is only spoken by Ongota elders. The language defies classification and is considered an isolate. Investigating the origins of Ongota and its community will provide important insight into African linguistic diversity and history. The documentation of Ongota aims at the production, processing and archiving of video and audio recordings of the language. Part of the material will be properly annotated. Grammar and vocabulary will be left with the community. The applicant speaks Ts'amakko, the only possible contact language. |
Project Details
Location: Ethiopia, Eastern Africa, Africa
Organiser(s):
Endangered Languages Documentation Programme
Project partner(s): Universitá di Napoli l'Orientale
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Funder(s):
Arcadia
Funding received: 56,418.00 GBP
Commencement Date: 04/2007
Project Status: Completed
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