East Cushitic Languages

The most prominent East Cushitic language is Oromo , with about 21 million speakers. Other prominent languages include Somali (in Somalia , Ethiopia , and Djibouti ) with about 15 million speakers, Sidamo ( Ethiopia ) with about 2 million speakers, and Afar ( Eritrea ) with about 1.5 million.

In the internal classification of East Cushitic, the most common major division is between Highland East Cushitic and Lowland East Cushitic. Western Omo-Tana is a distinct branch, as are the two branches represented by Yaaku (extinct) and Boon (endangered).

LIST OF EASTERN CUSHITIC LANGUAGES

Highland East Cushitic

--- Alaba (or Alaaba)

--- Burji

--- Gedeo

--- Hadiyya (or Hadiya)

--- Kambaata

--- Libido

--- Sidamo

Lowland East Cushitic

---Rendille-Boni ( Rendille and Boni )

--- Somali

--- Saho-Afar Languages

-- Saho

-- Afar

---Konso-Gidole

-- Konso (or Komso)

-- Dirasha (or Gidole, Kidole, Diraytata)

--- Oromo

---Dullay

-- Bussa (endangered)

--Gawwada

--Tsamai

Western Omo-Tana

---Arbore

---Baiso

---Daasanach

---El Molo/Elmolo (extinct; all speakers have shifted to Elmolo-Samburu)

Yaaku (moribund; all speakers have shifted to Mukogodo-Maasai, only three fluent speakers left)

Boon (endangered, possibly extinct)

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East Cushitic Languages