A Survey of the Linguistic Development of Sidaama

Abstract

Most of the written use of Sidaama in the pre-1991 period was a liturgical one. It was the post 1993 period that witnessed a tremendous development. Hence the objective of this paper is describing the linguistic development of Sidaama with a particular emphasis in the last three decades. First of all, a Latin script was adopted for writing the language while before 1993 it was written in Ethiopic script. Moreover, since 1993 it became a language of instruction in the first cycle of primary schools and then it was taught as a subject. In addition, it begun to be used as an administrative and court language. Furthermore, it became a language of mass media, first in radio broadcasts and since 2015 in TV broadcast. A diploma in Sidaamu Afoo began to be offered at Hawaasa Teachers’ Training College in 2010. In 2013 a B.A.in Sidaamu Afoo and Literature was launched at Hawaasa University and in 2020 a B.Ed. in the same discipline. The language expanded as thousands of neologisms were incorporated and also several books that deal with literary and cultural wealth of the language were published. The language also witnessed development in the sphere of arts and consequently hundreds of songs were recorded. In addition, a theatre troupe was formed that staged dramas based on various genres.

Keywords: [Ethiopia, Sidaama, Cushitic, Highland East Cushitic, linguistic development