Page Type: languageBerta | Ethnologue

WTI ISO 639-3

Berta

Ndú Benishangulú Autonym

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639
wti
Alternate Names
Barta, Bela-Shangul, Bela-Shanguru, Beni Shangul, Bertha, Burta, Funj, Jebelawi, Rotana, Rut’ana, Wetawit
Autonym
Ndú Benishangulú
Population
213,500 in Ethiopia, all users. L1 users: 197,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census), increasing. L2 users: 16,500. 99,700 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 199,000 (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 393,500 (as L1: 377,000; as L2: 16,500).
Location:
Benishangul-Gumuz region: Blue Nile river and Sudan border corner north of Asosa; Dalati, Sirba Abay area east of Dabus river; Matahara east.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites
Dialects
Shuru, Bake, Undu (Undulu), Mayu, Fadashi (Fadqashi, Fedashe), Dabuso (Wabosh), Beleje Gonfoye. Dabuso (Wabosh) and Beleje Gonfoye are more distant dialects, having been influenced by neighboring languages.
Typology
SVO, but flexible to be OVS, depending on discourse; prepositions; noun head initial; marked-nominative system; case marking on noun for nominative and genitive, phrasal case marking for dative and locative; construct form on head noun; verbs marked for tense/aspect; passive, causative, applicative, reciprocal, directional, middle constructions; tonal (lexical and grammatical).
Language Use
All domains, except for religion (which is in Arabic [arb]). Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh]. Also use Oromo [orm]. Used as L2 by Gwama [kmq], Komo [xom], Màwés Aasʼè [myf].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 10%. Functional women’s literacy program started in Berta in 2017 and is now being gradually expanded throughout the language community (2021 SIL). Taught in primary schools in grades 1–4 first cycle as medium of instruction; in grades 1–4 second cycle as subject. Taught in secondary schools in grades 5–10 as subject. Grade 11 mother tongue subject ready to be implemented 2020. Also taught in Gilgel Beles teachers training college. Taught as a subject in Asosa University. Literature. Radio. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Berta
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Berta
User Population
180,000 in Sudan (Osman 2006).
Location
Blue Nile state: Geissan, Kurmuk, and south Roseires districts, Ethiopia border area.
Dialects
Shuru, Bake, Undu (Undulu), Mayu, Fadashi (Fadqashi).
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
View other languages of Sudan

Map

Location: Benishangul-Gumuz region: Blue Nile river and Sudan border corner north of Asosa; Dalati, Sirba Abay area east of Dabus river; Matahara east.