Yem language

Yemsa is the language of the Yem people of the former Kingdom of Yamma, known as Kingdom of Janjero to the Amhara. It is a member of the Omotic group of languages, most closely related to Kafa. It is distinctive in having different systems of vocabulary depending on social status, rather like Japanese and Javanese. The estimated number of speakers varies wildly from about 1000 (Bender,1976) to half a million (Aklilu, 1993).

The Fuga dialect is distinct enough to perhaps be a different language.

Sample Verb Forms

• zagín - I do
• zaginí - we do
• zagít - you (singular) do
• zagí - he does
• zagì - she does

^[3]

Notes

1. ↑ Ethiopia 2007 Census
2. ↑ Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Yemsa". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. 
3. ↑ African Languages: An Introduction, edited by Bernd Heine & Derek Nurse, Cambridge University Press, 2000.

External links

• World Atlas of Language Structures information on Yemsa

Languages of Ethiopia Official language Amharic Regional languages Semitic Argobba Ge'ez Gurage Harari Inor Mesqan Muher Sebat Bet Gurage Silt'e Soddo Tigrinya Zay Cushitic Afar Alaba Arbore Awngi Baiso Bussa Burji Daasanach Dirasha Gawwada Gedeo Hadiyya Kambaata Konso Libido Oromo Qimant Saho Sidamo Somali Tsamai Xamtanga Omotic Aari Anfillo Bambassi Basketo Bench Boro Chara Dime Dizi Dorze Gamo-Gofa-Dawro Ganza Gayil Hamer-Banna Hozo Kachama-Ganjule Kafa Karo Koorete Maale Melo Nayi Oyda Seze Shekkacho Sheko Wolaytta Yemsa Zayse-Zergulla Nilo-Saharan Anuak Berta Daats'iin Gumuz Kacipo-Balesi Komo Kwama Kwegu Majang Me'en Murle Mursi Nuer Nyangatom Opuuo Shabo Suri Uduk