The classification of Gurage languages
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...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2423500 |
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| author | Fekede Menuta |
| author_facet | Fekede Menuta |
| author_sort | Fekede Menuta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d24f47b6ff74b2787f4e7c41f9949d4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-1983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d24f47b6ff74b2787f4e7c41f9949d42024-12-14T07:43:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Arts & Humanities2331-19832024-12-0111110.1080/23311983.2024.2423500The classification of Gurage languagesFekede Menuta0Department of English Language & Literature, Hawassa University, CSSH, Awasa, EthiopiaThe 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.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2423500ClassificationethiosemiticguragelexicostatisticsmorphologyAfrican Studies |
| spellingShingle | Fekede Menuta The classification of Gurage languages Cogent Arts & Humanities Classification ethiosemitic gurage lexicostatistics morphology African Studies |
| title | The classification of Gurage languages |
| title_full | The classification of Gurage languages |
| title_fullStr | The classification of Gurage languages |
| title_full_unstemmed | The classification of Gurage languages |
| title_short | The classification of Gurage languages |
| title_sort | classification of gurage languages |
| topic | Classification ethiosemitic gurage lexicostatistics morphology African Studies |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2423500 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fekedemenuta theclassificationofguragelanguages AT fekedemenuta classificationofguragelanguages |