Page Type: languageDirasha | Ethnologue

GDL ISO 639-3

Dirasha

Dhirayta Autonym

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639
gdl
Alternate Names
Derashe, Dhirasha, Dhiraytata, Dhirayyitta, Dhirayyittaat, Diraasha, Dirashitata, Dirayta, Diraytata, Diraytta, Gardulla, Gedoligna, Ghidole, Gidole
Autonym
Dhirayta
Population
80,500, all users. L1 users: 73,500 (2007 census). 15,300 Dirasha, 49,900 Gidole, 8,250 Kusumitta (2007 census). L2 users: 7,000. Ethnic population: 92,000 (2020 Local census).
Location:
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Segen zone, Dirashe district, Gidole town area in hills west of Lake Chamo.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Konso-Gidole
Dialects
Kusumitta (Kusumie). Part of a dialect continuum with Konso [kxc] and Mositacha [dox]. Lexical similarity: 55% with Konso [kxc].
Typology
SOV; verb suffix morphology shows causative, reflexive, subject person, number, gender.
Language Use
All domains. Used by all. Neutral attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Also use Eastern Oromo [hae]. Also use Konso [kxc]. Also use Mositacha [dox]. Used as L2 by Mositacha [dox].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Less than 10%. Church-based literacy classes started in 2006. Taught in some primary schools grades 1–3 as medium of instruction; further educational expansion planned. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2007–2013.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dirasha
Writing
Ethiopic script [Ethi], used since 2007, used in Church literature. Latin script [Latn], official usage.
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Segen zone, Dirashe district, Gidole town area in hills west of Lake Chamo.