Linda Jordan | SIL International (original) (raw)
Papers by Linda Jordan
SIL Electronic Survey Reports, 2013
Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process ... more Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process of shifting from the Borna language to Oromo and Amharic (Lemma and Wedekind 2002). However, the qualitative information gleaned from sociolinguistic interviews had not yet been quantified by the testing of bilingual proficiency. A new survey of the Boro area, completed in 2004, has combined bilingualism testing with a study of social interaction and language attitudes. This paper will present the results of the survey, showing the patterns of language vitality and language endangerment in several different Boro communities. The vitality of Borna across a wider area than expected, combined with the Boro people’s interest in preserving their language, points to the possibility that language shift will be stabilized and eventually reversed.
SIL Electronic Survey Report 2013-007, 2013
The main purpose of this survey was to determine whether the Gayil people of southwestern Ethiopi... more The main purpose of this survey was to determine whether the Gayil people of southwestern Ethiopia could understand and use literature in Aari, which is related to their speech variety. According to community leaders in that area, the Gayil cannot speak or understand the variety of Aari that has already been developed. This claim was investigated by means of sociolinguistic interviews and a Recorded Text Test (RTT) using literature published in Aari.
This study comes to the conclusion that the Gayil have very little comprehension of existing Aari literature and that the best strategy for providing them with access to written materials is to start a Gayil language development project. Gayil is a vital language, and many of its speakers do not appear to be adequately bilingual in any developed speech variety, including Southern Aari. The linguistic relationship between Gayil and Southern Aari is not close enough for them to use the same body of literature, as shown by the text test results and feedback from both test subjects and interviewees. A literacy campaign in the Gayil area would also appear to be a viable option in spite of the current low literacy rate, as a great deal of interest in literacy was expressed among the Gayil interviewees. For further details and discussion of these results, please refer to the explanations in the study that follows.
The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand ... more The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand and use literature videotaped in American Sign Language (ASL), which is related to Ethiopian Sign Language (ESL). This was investigated by means of a Video Recorded Text Test (VRTT) using both translated scripture and original literature in ASL. The results show quite low comprehension of the videotaped material by Ethiopian test subjects. Further research will be needed to investigate dialect differences among signers of ESL.
This survey was conducted to investigate the need for development projects in the Northern Mao, K... more This survey was conducted to investigate the need for development projects in the Northern Mao, Kwama, and Komo speech varieties of western Ethiopia. A team of four surveyors conducted two trips to the area in December 2003 and January 2004. They used questionnaires, gathered wordlists, and conducted both Oromo proficiency testing and intelligibility testing.
If language development was started in the area covered by this survey, current findings indicate project needs in the Northern Mao, Kwama, and Komo speech varieties. Although Oromo is the most important language of wider communication (LWC) in the area, the majority of people belonging to these ethnic groups have only limited proficiency in Oromo. The results of this survey confirmed the existence of a separate Komo speech variety; however, they show that development in Kwama could also benefit the Komo people. Future development in Northern Mao could benefit the Mao speakers of both the Bambassi area and the Didessa Valley.
The optimal language for literature and educational materials is not the same for all Zay areas. ... more The optimal language for literature and educational materials is not the same for all Zay areas. The data gathered during the current study points to Zay as optimal for the islands on Lake Ziway and Oromo as optimal for the lakeshores. However, the Zay people living on the islands would probably be well served by Amharic literature and educational materials until most of them immigrate to the shore or the Oromo educational system causes a shift in preference to Oromo. Zay’s case is one of an endangered language that could prove to be a development success story, but only if the level of motivation for a language development project is high enough to initiate and sustain the effort.
This study analyzes the historical relationship of Shara and Mele to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] an... more This study analyzes the historical relationship of Shara and Mele to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo]. This involves a discussion of genetic relationship, lexical borrowing and contact-induced morphological change. Sound correspondences across the four varieties, verb morphology and the history of language contact in the area all contribute to an understanding of how these less-known Ometo varieties compare to the better documented ones. As speech varieties of southern Ethiopia change and shift in contact with closely related varieties, lexical similarity can only tell a small part of the story. This research has a particular focus on Shara, which exemplifies the effect of contact-induced change on the apparent relatedness of one variety to another. In addition to clarifying relationships between Ometo speech varieties, the study’s ultimate aim is to provide recommendations for language development and further sociolinguistic investigation in the area.
Talks by Linda Jordan
![Research paper thumbnail of Classification of the Nyaneka [nyk] speech varieties of south-western Angola](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/33324574/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Based on a comparative analysis of wordlist data, this paper presents a classification of the Nya... more Based on a comparative analysis of wordlist data, this paper presents a classification of the Nyaneka (R13) varieties spoken in south-western Angola, including Oluhumbe, Olumwila, Olungambwe, Oluhanda, Olunyaneka and Olucilenge. Marked by migration, language contact, borrowing, mixing and shift, the historical relationship between ethnolinguistic groups in this part of Angola is complex and not easily described. Lexical data can obscure the picture of true genetic relatedness. Though the current data yield several patterns with overlapping sets that make it challenging to establish sound correspondences, the patterns do present several clear correspondences across the six Nyaneka varieties, according to which they naturally fall into three subgroups. While acknowledging the common history that distinguishes the Nyaneka group from neighbouring Kavango (K30), Owambo (R20) and Herero (R30), this paper recognises the unique ethnolinguistic identities that compose Nyaneka and defines these subgroups that form the structure of its internal linguistic classification.
The Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages have received little attention after Anita Pfouts (2003) established them as a group, in the process separating Olungambwe from the rest of Nyaneka and classifying it as a separate language. Anthropological studies of these ethnolinguistic groups have taken precedence over linguistic studies since then, leaving the further classification of the area’s speech varieties up to conjecture. Far from being the most peripheral variety of Nyaneka, in the current data Olungambwe emerges as part of a subgroup with Olumwila and Olunyaneka, while the remaining three Nyaneka varieties can be divided into two further subgroups. This paper is a step toward documenting the natural divisions among these speech varieties in order to inform and support current language development efforts in south-western Angola, further defining the Nyaneka identity and the varieties it encompasses.
Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process ... more Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process of shifting from the Borna language to Oromo and Amharic (Lemma and Wedekind 1995). However, the qualitative information gleaned from sociolinguistic interviews had not yet been quantified by the testing of bilingual proficiency. A new survey of the Boro area has recently combined bilingualism testing with a study of social interaction and language attitudes. This paper will present the results of the survey, showing the patterns of language vitality and language endangerment in several different Boro communities. The vitality of Borna across a wider area than expected, combined with the Boro people’s interest in preserving their language, points to the possibility that language shift will be stabilized and eventually reversed.
Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical ... more Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical relationship to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo] in order to show that this variety is genetically related to the former with heavy borrowing from the latter. The sound correspondences across the three varieties, the history of language contact in the area, and the verb morphology of Shara all point to this conclusion. The Shara people are also shifting toward Gamo as a first language, which only intensifies the Shara speech variety’s similarity to it. In fact, Shara now has greater lexical similarity to Gamo than it does to Zergulla.
In the past, little work has been done on the Ometo speech varieties found west of lakes Ch’amo and Abaya in southern Ethiopia, including Shara, Mele, Ganta, Garbansa and Balta. They have often been grouped under Gamo (the North Ometo speech variety commonly used as a second language by people throughout that area), but the ethnolinguistic identity of those who are called "Gamo" remains unclear. More data is needed in order to further define that identity and the speech varieties it encompasses. Shara was chosen to be the focus of this paper because it is one of the least known among the Ometo speech varieties, not appearing in the literature except for Wondimu Gaga’s 2006 master’s thesis. Almost all its speakers are over 25 years old, and this paper is a step toward documenting its relationship to other Ometo varieties as it heads toward extinction.
Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical ... more Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical relationship to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo] in order to show that this variety is genetically related to the former with heavy borrowing from the latter. The sound correspondences across the three varieties, the history of language contact in the area, and the verb morphology of Shara all point to this conclusion. The Shara people are also shifting toward Gamo as a first language, which only intensifies the Shara speech variety’s similarity to it. In fact, Shara now has greater lexical similarity to Gamo than it does to Zergulla. Almost all its speakers are over 25 years old, and this paper is a step toward documenting its relationship to other Ometo varieties as it heads toward extinction.
SIL Electronic Survey Reports, 2013
Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process ... more Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process of shifting from the Borna language to Oromo and Amharic (Lemma and Wedekind 2002). However, the qualitative information gleaned from sociolinguistic interviews had not yet been quantified by the testing of bilingual proficiency. A new survey of the Boro area, completed in 2004, has combined bilingualism testing with a study of social interaction and language attitudes. This paper will present the results of the survey, showing the patterns of language vitality and language endangerment in several different Boro communities. The vitality of Borna across a wider area than expected, combined with the Boro people’s interest in preserving their language, points to the possibility that language shift will be stabilized and eventually reversed.
SIL Electronic Survey Report 2013-007, 2013
The main purpose of this survey was to determine whether the Gayil people of southwestern Ethiopi... more The main purpose of this survey was to determine whether the Gayil people of southwestern Ethiopia could understand and use literature in Aari, which is related to their speech variety. According to community leaders in that area, the Gayil cannot speak or understand the variety of Aari that has already been developed. This claim was investigated by means of sociolinguistic interviews and a Recorded Text Test (RTT) using literature published in Aari.
This study comes to the conclusion that the Gayil have very little comprehension of existing Aari literature and that the best strategy for providing them with access to written materials is to start a Gayil language development project. Gayil is a vital language, and many of its speakers do not appear to be adequately bilingual in any developed speech variety, including Southern Aari. The linguistic relationship between Gayil and Southern Aari is not close enough for them to use the same body of literature, as shown by the text test results and feedback from both test subjects and interviewees. A literacy campaign in the Gayil area would also appear to be a viable option in spite of the current low literacy rate, as a great deal of interest in literacy was expressed among the Gayil interviewees. For further details and discussion of these results, please refer to the explanations in the study that follows.
The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand ... more The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand and use literature videotaped in American Sign Language (ASL), which is related to Ethiopian Sign Language (ESL). This was investigated by means of a Video Recorded Text Test (VRTT) using both translated scripture and original literature in ASL. The results show quite low comprehension of the videotaped material by Ethiopian test subjects. Further research will be needed to investigate dialect differences among signers of ESL.
This survey was conducted to investigate the need for development projects in the Northern Mao, K... more This survey was conducted to investigate the need for development projects in the Northern Mao, Kwama, and Komo speech varieties of western Ethiopia. A team of four surveyors conducted two trips to the area in December 2003 and January 2004. They used questionnaires, gathered wordlists, and conducted both Oromo proficiency testing and intelligibility testing.
If language development was started in the area covered by this survey, current findings indicate project needs in the Northern Mao, Kwama, and Komo speech varieties. Although Oromo is the most important language of wider communication (LWC) in the area, the majority of people belonging to these ethnic groups have only limited proficiency in Oromo. The results of this survey confirmed the existence of a separate Komo speech variety; however, they show that development in Kwama could also benefit the Komo people. Future development in Northern Mao could benefit the Mao speakers of both the Bambassi area and the Didessa Valley.
The optimal language for literature and educational materials is not the same for all Zay areas. ... more The optimal language for literature and educational materials is not the same for all Zay areas. The data gathered during the current study points to Zay as optimal for the islands on Lake Ziway and Oromo as optimal for the lakeshores. However, the Zay people living on the islands would probably be well served by Amharic literature and educational materials until most of them immigrate to the shore or the Oromo educational system causes a shift in preference to Oromo. Zay’s case is one of an endangered language that could prove to be a development success story, but only if the level of motivation for a language development project is high enough to initiate and sustain the effort.
This study analyzes the historical relationship of Shara and Mele to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] an... more This study analyzes the historical relationship of Shara and Mele to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo]. This involves a discussion of genetic relationship, lexical borrowing and contact-induced morphological change. Sound correspondences across the four varieties, verb morphology and the history of language contact in the area all contribute to an understanding of how these less-known Ometo varieties compare to the better documented ones. As speech varieties of southern Ethiopia change and shift in contact with closely related varieties, lexical similarity can only tell a small part of the story. This research has a particular focus on Shara, which exemplifies the effect of contact-induced change on the apparent relatedness of one variety to another. In addition to clarifying relationships between Ometo speech varieties, the study’s ultimate aim is to provide recommendations for language development and further sociolinguistic investigation in the area.
Based on a comparative analysis of wordlist data, this paper presents a classification of the Nya... more Based on a comparative analysis of wordlist data, this paper presents a classification of the Nyaneka (R13) varieties spoken in south-western Angola, including Oluhumbe, Olumwila, Olungambwe, Oluhanda, Olunyaneka and Olucilenge. Marked by migration, language contact, borrowing, mixing and shift, the historical relationship between ethnolinguistic groups in this part of Angola is complex and not easily described. Lexical data can obscure the picture of true genetic relatedness. Though the current data yield several patterns with overlapping sets that make it challenging to establish sound correspondences, the patterns do present several clear correspondences across the six Nyaneka varieties, according to which they naturally fall into three subgroups. While acknowledging the common history that distinguishes the Nyaneka group from neighbouring Kavango (K30), Owambo (R20) and Herero (R30), this paper recognises the unique ethnolinguistic identities that compose Nyaneka and defines these subgroups that form the structure of its internal linguistic classification.
The Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages have received little attention after Anita Pfouts (2003) established them as a group, in the process separating Olungambwe from the rest of Nyaneka and classifying it as a separate language. Anthropological studies of these ethnolinguistic groups have taken precedence over linguistic studies since then, leaving the further classification of the area’s speech varieties up to conjecture. Far from being the most peripheral variety of Nyaneka, in the current data Olungambwe emerges as part of a subgroup with Olumwila and Olunyaneka, while the remaining three Nyaneka varieties can be divided into two further subgroups. This paper is a step toward documenting the natural divisions among these speech varieties in order to inform and support current language development efforts in south-western Angola, further defining the Nyaneka identity and the varieties it encompasses.
Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process ... more Previous research has shown that the Boro people, also known as the Shinasha, are in the process of shifting from the Borna language to Oromo and Amharic (Lemma and Wedekind 1995). However, the qualitative information gleaned from sociolinguistic interviews had not yet been quantified by the testing of bilingual proficiency. A new survey of the Boro area has recently combined bilingualism testing with a study of social interaction and language attitudes. This paper will present the results of the survey, showing the patterns of language vitality and language endangerment in several different Boro communities. The vitality of Borna across a wider area than expected, combined with the Boro people’s interest in preserving their language, points to the possibility that language shift will be stabilized and eventually reversed.
Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical ... more Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical relationship to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo] in order to show that this variety is genetically related to the former with heavy borrowing from the latter. The sound correspondences across the three varieties, the history of language contact in the area, and the verb morphology of Shara all point to this conclusion. The Shara people are also shifting toward Gamo as a first language, which only intensifies the Shara speech variety’s similarity to it. In fact, Shara now has greater lexical similarity to Gamo than it does to Zergulla.
In the past, little work has been done on the Ometo speech varieties found west of lakes Ch’amo and Abaya in southern Ethiopia, including Shara, Mele, Ganta, Garbansa and Balta. They have often been grouped under Gamo (the North Ometo speech variety commonly used as a second language by people throughout that area), but the ethnolinguistic identity of those who are called "Gamo" remains unclear. More data is needed in order to further define that identity and the speech varieties it encompasses. Shara was chosen to be the focus of this paper because it is one of the least known among the Ometo speech varieties, not appearing in the literature except for Wondimu Gaga’s 2006 master’s thesis. Almost all its speakers are over 25 years old, and this paper is a step toward documenting its relationship to other Ometo varieties as it heads toward extinction.
Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical ... more Based on sociolinguistic and lexical data, this paper presents an analysis of Shara’s historical relationship to East Ometo Zergulla [zay] and North Ometo Gamo [gmo] in order to show that this variety is genetically related to the former with heavy borrowing from the latter. The sound correspondences across the three varieties, the history of language contact in the area, and the verb morphology of Shara all point to this conclusion. The Shara people are also shifting toward Gamo as a first language, which only intensifies the Shara speech variety’s similarity to it. In fact, Shara now has greater lexical similarity to Gamo than it does to Zergulla. Almost all its speakers are over 25 years old, and this paper is a step toward documenting its relationship to other Ometo varieties as it heads toward extinction.