Bussa language

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Bussa Mossittaata
Spoken in:	Ethiopia
Region:	Dirashe special woreda, Southern Ethiopia
Total speakers:	6,624
Language family:	Afro-Asiatic Cushitic East Bussa
Language codes
ISO 639-1:	`om`
ISO 639-2:
ISO 639-3:	`dox` — dox
Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. See IPA chart for English for an English-based pronunciation key.

Bussa (or Muusiye) is a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Dirashe special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region located in southern Ethiopia. The people themselves, numbering 6,624 according to the 1998 census, call their language Mossittaata. Two varieties can be distinguished: North and West Bussa.

Bussa is highly influenced by surrounding Cushitic and Omotic languages and should be considered endangered according to Gurmu (2005). Speakers of the North Bussa variety are shifting to Oromo, Kidole (Diraytata) or Amharic, whereas speakers of the West Bussa variety are shifting to the Omotic languages Zargulla, Zayse and Gamo. Important factors for the ongoing language shift include intermarriage with other ethnic groups and heavy contact with neighbouring people.

[edit] References

Gurmu, Alemayehu [2005] 'Some Notes on Sociolinguistic Aspects of Bussa' (unpublished paper presented at International Conference on Endangered Ethiopian Languages, Addis Ababa 27-30 April 2005)
Wedekind, Klaus (ed.) (2002) 'Sociolinguistic survey report of the languages of the Gawwada (Dullay), Diraasha (Gidole), Muusiye (Bussa) areas.' SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2002-065.