Bench | Ethnologue

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639: bcq
Alternate Names: Benchnon, Bencnon, Dizu, “Ghimarra” (pej.), “Gimarra” (pej.), “Gimira” (pej.)
Autonym: Benc’non‎
Population: 370,600, all users. L1 users: 348,000 (2007 census). 14,300 Mer. L2 users: 22,600. 150,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 352,000 (2007 census).
Location:: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Mizan Teferi area.
Language Status: 4 (Educational).
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Gonga-Gimojan, Gimojan, Ometo-Gimira, Gimira
Dialects: Bench (Bencho, Benesho), Mer (Mieru), She (Kaba, Sce).
Typology: SOV; tonal, 5 level tones, 1 glide.
Language Use: Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Sheko [she].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 12% in Amharic [amh]. Pilot education project begun in 2008. Kindergarten and adult literacy programs using Bench as medium of instruction are piloted (2021 SIL). Taught in primary schools as medium of instruction for grades 1–4. Taught as a subject in grades 5–6, with grade 7 materials being developed. Radio. NT: 1990.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Bench
Writing: Ethiopic script [Ethi], used until 2008. Latin script [Latn], used since 2008.
Other Comments: Traditional religion.

Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Mizan Teferi area.