Page Type: languageDaasanach | Ethnologue

DSH ISO 639-3

Daasanach

Af Daasanach Autonym

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639
dsh
Alternate Names
Af ’Daasanach, Daasanech, Dama, Dasenech, Dathanaic, Dathanaik, Dathanik, Dhaasanac, Gallab, Galuba, Gelab, Geleb, Geleba, Gelebinya, Gelubba, Gheleba, Marille, Merile, Merille, Morille, Reshiat, Russia, af’Daasanach, “Shangilla” (pej.)
Autonym
Af Daasanach
Population
48,230 in Ethiopia, all users. L1 users: 48,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). L2 users: 230. 31,400 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 48,100 (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 66,630 (as L1: 66,400; as L2: 230).
Location:
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Western Omo-Tana
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
Used by all. Also use Amharic [amh]. Also use Arbore [arv].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 2%. Non-formal literacy classes. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2014.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Daasanach
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Daasanach
User Population
18,400 in Kenya (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity. Population varies as people freely cross the Ethiopian border. 6,250 monolinguals.
Location
Marsabit and Turkana counties: north Lake Turkana, both shores.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
8 ethnic groups: Inkabelo (7,000), Inkoria (2,000), Naritch (Naarich 1,800), Elele (1,500), Randal (1,000), Oro (800), Koro (500), and Riele (400). Traditional religion.
View other languages of Kenya

Map

Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: lower Omo river, along Lake Turkana.