Ongota language

Ongota
Birale
Pronunciation/iːfa ʕoŋɡota/
Native toEthiopia
RegionSouthern Omo Zone, Southern Region
Native speakers
12 (2012)[1]
unclassified (possibly a language isolate)
Language codes
ISO 639-3bxe
Glottologbira1253
ELPOngota
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Ongota (also known as Birale, Birayle) is a moribund language of southwest Ethiopia. UNESCO reported in 2012 that out of a total ethnic population of 115, only 12 elderly native speakers remained, the rest of their small village on the west bank of the Weito River having adopted the Tsamai language instead.[1] The default word order is subject–object–verb. The classification of the language is obscure (Sava & Tosco 2015).

  1. ^ a b "Nomination File No. 00493 For Inscription on The List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need Of Urgent Safeguarding In 2012". Archived from the original on 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2013-03-05.