Page Type: languageSheko | Ethnologue

SHE ISO 639-3

Sheko

S’oku noogu Autonym

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639
she
Alternate Names
Shak, Shako, Shekka, Shekko, Tschako
Autonym
S’oku noogu
Population
43,820, all users. L1 users: 38,900 (2007 census). L2 users: 4,920. 13,600 monolinguals (1994 census). Ethnic population: 37,600 (2007 census).
Location:
Southeast Gambela region: southeast; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Bench-Maji zone.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Dizoid
Dialects
Sheko, Tepi, Guraferda. Distinct from Shabo [sbf] and Shekkacho [moy].
Typology
SOV; adjectives, demonstratives and numerals usually follow head noun, modifying nouns and genitives usually precede head noun; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; verb morphology indicates aspect, mood and stance; verbal clitics mark person, number and gender of subject; passive, causative and middle verb derivations, and reciprocal built of causative and middle; tonal (4 tones); sibilant harmony; syllabic nasal.
Language Use
Home, religion, community. Also use Amharic [amh]. Also use Bench [bcq].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 16%. Kindergarten and adult literacy programs using Me’en [mym] as medium of instruction are piloted (2021 SIL). Taught in primary schools as medium of instruction for grades 1–4 and as subject for grades 1–8. Kindergarten medium of instruction is piloted. Literature. Radio. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sheko
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 2009.
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Southeast Gambela region: southeast; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Bench-Maji zone.