Outlines of Argobba Pedagogical Grammar

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to sketch out the pedagogical grammar of Argobba language. The intended addresses are the Argobba language learners. Although the Argobba people live in different administrative regions of the country (Amhara, Afar, Oromiya, Harari, etc), the language does not have the same status in places where the Argobba people are found. In Aliyu Amba, Ankober, Gacheni and surrounding villages, for instance, only some elderly semi-speakers use the language. Following recent studies (Getahun, 2009, Wetter, 2010), there is stable bilingualism only in Shonke and Tollaha, where the data for this study is collected from. The language is seriously endangered, and it needs revitalization to fulfill the language needs of the speech community. Language pedagogy is one of the components of language revitalization. None of the grammar studies done so far on the language has treated how grammatical items of the language could be made more learnable and teachable. This study outlines the phonology, morphology, and syntax of the language in pedagogical orientation. It is strongly believed that besides its contribution to producing pedagogically sound learning/teaching materials, the study paves the way for detailed and graded pedagogical grammar work on the language. The contribution of this study is, therefore, two-fold: pedagogical and revitalization.