Ale | Ethnologue

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639: gwd
Alternate Names: Dabosse, Debase, Dobase, Dullay, Gobeze, Pako Qalatte, Pako ʕalatte, Qawko, Werizoid, ʕale, “Gauwada” (pej.), “Gawata” (pej.), “Gawwada” (pej.), “Gewada” (pej.), “Kawwad’a” (pej.), “Kawwada” (pej.)
Autonym: Qale
Population: 85,670, all users. L1 users: 84,300 (2017). L2 users: 1,370. 27,500 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 68,600 (2007 census).
Location:: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Segen zone, west of Lake Chamo.
Language Status: 4 (Educational).
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Dullay
Dialects: Tihinte (Dihina), Gargarte (K’ark’arte), Dobase (Gobeze), Golango (Kollanko, Wollango), Gorroze, Harse (Worase). Lexical similarity: 78% with Mositacha [dox], 73% with Tsamai [tsb], 77% with the Harso dialect, 92% with the Gollango dialect, 41% with Konso [kxc]. The Harso dialect has 80% lexical similarity with the Dobase dialect of Mositacha [dox], 56% with Tsamai [tsb].
Typology: SOV; 26 consonants and 5 vowels; vowel gemination; verbs are polysynthetic.
Language Use: Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Also use Borana-Arsi-Guji Oromo [gax]. Also use Konso [kxc].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 22%. Taught in some primary schools grades 1–3 as medium of instruction; further educational expansion planned. Bible portions: 2017.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Ale
Writing: Latin script [Latn].

Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Segen zone, west of Lake Chamo.