Page Type: languageGwama | Ethnologue

KMQ ISO 639-3

Gwama

Gwama, Ttwa Gwama Autonym

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639
kmq
Alternate Names
Afaan Mao, Amam, Gogwama, Goma, Guama, Kewama, Kiring, Kuro, Kuwama, Kwama, Kwoma, Nokanoka, North Koma, Qewama, T’waKwama, Takwama
Autonym
Gwama, Ttwa Gwama
Population
15,000 (Küspert 2015). Ethnic population: 20,000 (Küspert 2015).
Location:
Benishangul-Gumuz region: Mao Komo special woreda (Lowland dialect); Oromia region: West Wollega zone, Begi district; some villages near South Sudan border (Highland dialect).
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Koman
Dialects
Highland Gwama (T’wa Sit Shwala), Lowland Gwama. Highland Gwama rapidly dwindling in favor of West Central Oromo [gaz] (Küspert 2015).
Typology
SVO; head-initial noun phrase; prepositions; 2 genders; plural only distinguished for animate in Lowland; three degrees of distance in demonstratives; verbal morphology distinguishes deictic direction, aspect, person, number and gender for subject, object and indirect object, third (neuter) gender only in non-subject affixes; no morphological verb derivations; stem reduplication to prevent occurrence of inflected verb stem in clause final position; 7 vowels with ATR distinction in the high vowels, no phonemic length; tonal (3 tone levels); first person inclusive and exclusive distinction.
Language Use
Vigorous in Benishangul Gumuz lowlands. Some of all ages. All also use West Central Oromo [gaz], as the dominant language in the Highland area, with some language shift taking place in Oromia region and in Tongo area (Küspert 2015). Some also use Amharic [amh], especially younger generation in Benishangul Gumuz. A few also use Standard Arabic [arb], in limited domains. Also use Berta [wti]. Used as L2 by Ganza [gza], Komo [xom].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 12%. Non-formal literacy classes. Pilot classes in Benishangul Gumuz region, Grades 1–3 by 2020 with further educational development planned. Development of schoolbooks ongoing. Radio. Videos. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gwama
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 2013.
Other Comments
Muslim, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Benishangul-Gumuz region: Mao Komo special woreda (Lowland dialect); Oromia region: West Wollega zone, Begi district; some villages near South Sudan border (Highland dialect).