Kwegu

A language of Ethiopia

ISO 639: xwg
Alternate Names: Bacha, Koegu, Koyego, Kwegi, Menja, Nidi
Population: 5,110 (2007 census). 3,470 Bacha and 1,640 Koyego (2007 census). Ethnic population: 4,570 (2007 census). 2,630 Bacha and 1,940 Koyego.
Location:: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Omo river west bank, Kuchur village, and a small group north.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Surmic, South, Southeast, Kwegu
Dialects: Yidinich (Yidi, Yidinit), Muguji. Listed dialects may not be inherently intelligible with Kwegu. May be a name for several hunter groups. Lexical similarity: 36% with Mursi [muz].
Typology: SVO.
Language Use: Diminishing among adults. Some of all ages. Also use Me’en [mym], particularly the Bodi dialect. Also use Mursi [muz].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 0%.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kwegu
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Seen as lower class by Bodi, Mursi, Karo, or Nyangatom. Men from these patron groups may marry Kwegu women. A small group who maintain a basically constant population.

Location: Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Omo river west bank, Kuchur village, and a small group north.