The classification of Gurage languages

Abstract

The objective of this study was to re-examine the classification of Gurage language varieties within the Ethiosemitic branch. Previous studies inconsistently grouped Muher, Mesqan, Inor, and Gyeto, using either lexical or morphological criteria for classification. The present study employed a mixed approach, combining quantitative lexical data with qualitative morphological parameters. A list of 255 words was collected from each language variety and analyzed using Cog. 1.3.6.1 and Gabmap. The results were presented through similarity matrices, dendrograms, and maps. Moreover, different overt morphological affixes of nouns and verbs from each language were identified, and similar affixes that characterize related language groups were used to regroup the languages. The groupings derived from lexical comparisons and the patterns observed in morphological affixes were used to triangulate the results. The findings revealed two major Gurage language groups: Dumi-Gurage (DG), comprising three languages, and Gunnän-Gurage (GG). The GG group is further divided into North Gurage, with four language members, and West Gurage, with seven language varieties, among which Chaha and Gura are considered inseparably the same variety.

Keywords

• Classification
• ethiosemitic
• gurage
• lexicostatistics
• morphology
• African Studies