Page Type: languageKunama | Ethnologue

KUN ISO 639-3

Kunama

Kunama Autonym

A language of Eritrea

ISO 639
kun
Alternate Names
Baada, Baaden, Baaza, Baazayn, Baazen, Bada, Baden, Baza, Bazen, Cunama, Diila
Autonym
Kunama
Population
237,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 244,570 (as L1: 244,430; as L2: 140).
Location:
Gash-Barka region: between Gash river and Ethiopia border; Aimara west of Barentu, Barka south of Barentu, Marda north, northeast, and east of Barentu, Barentu.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Kunama
Dialects
Barka (Berka), Marda, Aymasa (Aaimasa, Aimara, Odasa), Tika (Lakatakura-Tika, Tiika), Ilit (Iiliit, Iilit, Iliit), Bitama (Bitaama), Sokodasa (Sogadas, Sogodas), Takazze-Setiit (Setiit, Setit), Tigray. Bitama and Ilit are nearly unintelligible to other Kunama dialect speakers. Barka is largest and is intelligible to speakers of all others.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; case suffixes.
Language Use
Home. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Bilen [byn], Nara [nrb].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Females: 21%. Literacy rate in L2: Low. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kunama
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since late 1800s.
Other Comments
Laka-Takura and Tika have been influenced by Arab culture and by the Beni-Amer. Traditional religion, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kunama
User Population
7,570 in Ethiopia, all users. L1 users: 7,430 in Ethiopia (2007 census). L2 users: 140 (1994 census). Ethnic population: 4,860 (2007 census).
Location
Tigray region: west of Sheraro and Yirga.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Ethiopia

Map

Location: Gash-Barka region: between Gash river and Ethiopia border; Aimara west of Barentu, Barka south of Barentu, Marda north, northeast, and east of Barentu, Barentu.