Cover not available

In:Anthropological Linguistics: Perspectives from Africa
Edited by Andrea Hollington, Alice Mitchell and Nico Nassenstein
[Culture and Language Use 23] 2024
► pp. 104–134

Get fulltext
PDF logo with download linkDownload Chapter PDF

Chapter 5
Notes on glottonyms and ethnonyms in Ethiopian languages

 | Addis Ababa University
Open Access logo
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 1 February 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/clu.23.05ley
Abstract
This paper gives a grammatical and sociolinguistic account of glottonyms and ethnonyms in Ethiopian languages. As a metonymic relationship, glottonyms are derived from ethnonyms by attaching the roots of the vocal organs: ‘mouth’, ‘tongue’ and ‘tooth’. The mouth-based glottonyms are widespread in Cushitic, Omotic and Semitic languages. Nilo-Saharan languages have mouth- and tongue-based glottonyms. Few suppletive forms of glottonyms and ethnonyms were recorded. The use of multiple names for the same language and ethnic group is frequent. The disparity between endonyms and exonyms has long been a source of confusion. In particular, the use of derogatory names has created discontent among ethnolinguistic groups. To alleviate the problems emanating from this polyonymous situation, a uniform use of endonyms as standard names is proposed in this study.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Glottonym markers
    • 2.1Vf(f)(V)(C) ‘mouth’
    • 2.2(C)Vf(f)V(V)(C) ‘mouth’
    • 2.3Glottonym markers other than Vf(f)(V)(C) and (C)Vf(f)V(V)(C)
    • 2.4Tongue-based glottonyms
    • 2.5VVs’è and gV- ‘tooth’
    • 2.6-(V)ɲɲa, -ŋa, -s(s)a, -tstso and -te
    • 2.7Suppletive forms of glottonyms
    • 2.8Remarks on glottonyms
  • 3.Ethnonyms
    • 3.1Relationship between glottonyms and ethnonyms
    • 3.2Etymology of glottonyms and ethnonyms
    • 3.3Mononymous and polyonymous names
    • 3.4Self-names vs. imposed names
  • 4.Concluding remarks
  • Notes
  • References
References (123)
References
Abbink, J. (1992). An ethno-historical perspective on Me’en territorial organization (southwest Ethiopia). Anthropos, 87, 351–364.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2009). The Ethiopian second republic and the fragile ‘social contract’. Africa Spectrum, 44(2), 3–28. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2011). Ethnic-based federalism and ethnicity in Ethiopia: Reassessing the experiment after 20 years. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 5(4), 596–618. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Abinet Sime. (2007 (E.C)). የቋንቋ መሰረታዊያን. Far East Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Academy of Ethiopian languages and Cultures. (2000). Amharic-Amharic dictionary. Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ahland, C. A. (2012). A grammar of northern and southern Gumuz (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oregon.
Ahland, M. B. (2012). A grammar of northern Mao (màwés aas’è) (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oregon.
Aklilu Abera. (2007). Negation in Wolayta (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Aklilu Yilma. (2019). የኢትዮጵያ ቋንቋዎች/ዘየዎች ቆጠራ. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, LII, 11–138.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Alemgena Belete. (2018). Documentation and grammatical description of Kara (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Allen, I. L. (1983). The language of ethnic conflict. Social organization and lexical culture. Columbia University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Amanuel Alemayehu. 2012. Documentation and description of the grammar of Anfillo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Amborn, H., Minker, G., & Sasse, H. J. (1980). Das Dullay: Materialen zu einer ostkuschitischen Sprachgruppe. Kölner Beiträge zur Afrikanistik (Band 6). Dietrich Reimer.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Anbessa Teferra. (2000). A grammar of Sidaama. Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Angesom Abadi. (2012). Marking of syntactic relations in Kunama (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Appleyard, D. (1987). A grammatical sketch of Khamtanga – I. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 50(2), 241–266. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Azeb Amha. (2001). The Maale language. CNWS Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2007). Questioning forms in Zargulla. From beyond the Mediterranean: Akten des 7. internationalen Semitohamitistenkongresses (VII. ISHaK), 197–210.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2014). Complex predicates in Zargulla. In R. Meyer, Y. Treis, & A. Amha (Eds.), Explorations in Ethiopian Linguistics. Complex predicates, finiteness and interrogativity (pp. 91–119). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bedilu Waqjira. (2010). Morphology and verb construction types of Kistaniniya (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Trondheim.
Bender, M. L. (1971). The languages of Ethiopia. A new lexicostatistic classification and some problems of diffusion. Journal of Anthropological Linguistics 13(5), 165–288.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1975). The Ethiopian Nilo-Saharans. Artistic Printers.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(Ed.). (1976). The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia. African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2000). Nilo-Saharan. In B. Heine & D. Nurse (Eds.), African languages. An introduction (pp. 43–73). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Beniam, Mitiku. (2013). Harari. A descriptive grammar (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Beniam, Sisay. (2007). Simple nominal complements in Koorete. In A. Amha, M. Mous, & G. Savà (Eds.), Omotic and Cushitic language Studies (pp. 23–41). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bikila, Ashenafi. (2018). Documentation and description of Borna verb morphology. An Omotic language of Ethiopia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Black, D. P. (1976). Werizoid. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia (pp. 222–231). Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bliese, L. (1976). Afar. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia. Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cerulli, E. (1956). Peoples of Northwest Ethiopia and its borderlands. International Affairs Institute.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cowley, R. (1971). The Kunfal people and their language. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 9(2), 99–106.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Crass, J. (2005). Das K’abeena. Deskriptive Grammatik einer hochlandostkuschitischen Sprache. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dabala, Goshu, & Girma Awgichew. (2005). A grammatical sketch and some sociolinguistic aspects of a dying language: Anfillo. ELRC Working Papers (pp. 53–86).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dabala, Goshu. (2011). The semantics of Oromo frontal adpositions (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oslo.
Data De’a. (1997). Rural livelihoods and social stratification among the Dawro, Southern Ethiopia (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Desta Teklewold. (1962). አዲስ የአማርኛ መዝገበ-ቃላት. [New Amharic dictionary]. Artistic Printing Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dimmendaal, G. (1989). On language death in Eastern Africa. In N. C. Dorian (Ed.), Investigating obsolescence. Studies in language contraction and death (pp. 13–32). Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1998). A syntactic typology of the Surmic family from an areal and historical-comparative point of view. In G. Dimmendaal (Ed.), Surmic languages and cultures (pp. 35–82). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2007). Ñaŋatom language. In S. Uhlig (Ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica (Vol. 3, pp. 1131–1132). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2020). Baale. In R. Vossen & G. Dimmendaal (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of African languages (pp. 630–643). Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Esayas, Tajebe. (2015). Descriptive grammar of Saaho (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Ethiopian Languages Research Center. (2005). The Ethiopian languages. Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fekede, Menuta. (2012). Murle document. Phonology & grammar. SNNPR Counsel of Nationalities.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2018). Our voice: Guragina grammar. Addis Ababa.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Freeman, D. (2006). Who are the Gamo? And who are the D’ache? Confusions of ethnicity in Ethiopia’s Southern Highlands. In S. Uhlig, M. Bulakh, D. Nosnitsin, & T. Rave (Eds.), Proceedings of the 15th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (pp. 1–7). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gardner, S., & Siebert, R. (1994). The Zay language. Survey of little-known languages of Ethiopia (SLLE), 17. Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gebre, Ynteso. (2010). Cultural contact and change in naming practices among the Aari of Southwest Ethiopia. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 22(2), 183–194. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Getachew, Anteneh. (2014). Grammatical description and documentation of Majang (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Getachew, Kassa. (2015). A grammar of Hoozo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Getahun, Amare. (2009). Argobba verb morphology and syntax (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Girke, F. (2011). Plato on the Omo: Reflections on decision-making among the Kara of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 5(1), 177–194. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Girma, Mengistu. (2007). The morphosyntax of verbal functional categories of Diddessa Mao (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
. (2015). A grammar of Sezo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Girma, Mengistu & Endashaw Wolde-Michael. (2020). በቤንሻንጉል ጉሙዝና በጋምቤላ ክልሎች የሚነገሩ ቋንቋዎችና የአጠቃቀማቸው ሁኔታ፤ በኢትዮጵያ የቋንቋ አጠቃቀም፣ የማህበራዊ ገጽታው እና አገራዊና ዓለማቀፋዊ የቋንቋ ፖሊሲ ተመክሮዎች፤ 164–186፤ የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ የባህልና ቱሪዝም ሚኒስቴር:: [The languages and language use patterns in Benishangul Gumuz and Gambella Regional Sates. Language use in Ethiopiaː Its social aspects, and the national and international language policy experiences.]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Greenberg, J. 1966. The languages of Africa. Indiana University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grimes, B. F. (Ed.). (1988). Ethnologue: Languages of the world (11th ed.). Summer Institute of Linguistics.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grottanelli, Vinigi. (1940). I Mao. Centro studi per l’Africa orientale Italiana; missione etnografica nel Wollega occidentale, 1. Reale Accademia d’Italia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gutt, E.-A. (1983). Studies in the phonology of Silt’e. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 16, 37–73.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Haasnoot, J. (2010). Šakačo. In S. Uhlig (ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica (pp. 480–481). Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hanna, Mellese. (Ed.). (2011). Unique Ethiopia: የደቡብ ፈርጦች, ቁጥር 1. Sunlight Media Communication PLC.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hayward, R. J. (1978). The place of Bayso within Eastern Cushitic. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (pp. 73–90). University of Illinois at Chicago.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hetzron, R. (1969). The verbal system of Southern Agaw (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of California Press.
Hinsene, Mekuria. (2012). Oromo-Amharic-English dictionary (rev. ed.). Commercial Printing Enterprise.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hirut, Woldemariam. (2004). The Haro language Sezo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
. (2007). Deictics in Gamo. In J. Crass & R. Meyer (Eds.), Deictics, copula and focus in the Ethiopian convergence area (pp. 129–138). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hudson, G. (1976). Highland East Cushitic. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non- Semitic languages of Ethiopia (pp. 232–277). Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2012). Ethnic group and mother tongue in the Ethiopian censuses of 1994 and 2007. Aethiopica, 15, 204–218. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Joswig, A. (2019). The Majang language (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Leiden University.
Kembo-Sure, E., & Webb, V. (2000). African Voices. An Introduction to African languages and linguistics. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kibebe-Tshay, Taye. 2015. Documentation and grammatical description of Chabu Sezo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Lange, W. J. (1982). History of the South Gonga (Southern Ethiopia). Franz Steine Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lemi, Kebebew. (2018). Grammatical description and documentation of Bayso Sezo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Leslau, W. (1952). Notes on Kambatta of Southern Ethiopia. Africa, 22(4), 348–359. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1999). Zway Ethiopic documents. Äthiopistische Forschungen (no. 51). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lydall, J. (1976). Hamer. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia (pp. 393–438). African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mattewos, Wolde-Giorgis. (2010). Verbal morphology of Gede’o Sezo (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Mellese, Gelaneh. (2014). Documentation of Opuuo Sezo (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Meyer, R. (2005). Das Zay: Deskriptive Grammatik einer Ostguragesprache (Äthiosemitisch). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2006). Wolane: Descriptive grammar of an East Gurage language (Ethiosemitic). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moges, Yigezu. (2007). The phonetic and phonology of Majang vowels: A historical-comparative perspective. In D. L. Payne & M. Reh (Eds.), Advances in Nilo-Saharan linguistics (pp. 255–265). Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mulugeta, Seyoum. (2008). A grammar of Dime. LOT Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Newman, P., & Schuh, R. G. (2016). Hausa language names and ethnonyms. Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, 37(2), 185–200. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nikodimos, I. (1987). The Kunama and their language Sezo (Unpublished BA thesis). Addis Ababa University.
Ongaye, Oda. (2004). An overview of complex sentences and complement clauses in Konso Sezo (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Proschan, F. (1997). We are all Kmhmu, just the same: Ethnonyms, ethnic identities, and ethnic groups. American Ethnologist. Journal of the American Ethnological Society, 24(1), 91–113. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Radden, G. (2001). The folk model of language. metaphorik.de (pp. 55–86). Retrieved on 18 June 2023 from [URL]
Reh, M. (1996). Anywa language. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Saeed, J. I. (1987). Somali reference grammar. Dunwoody Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sagawa, T. (2010). War experiences and self-determination of the Dasaanach in the conflict-ridden area of North-East Africa. Nilo-Ethiopian Studies, 14, 19–37.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Samuel, Zinabu. (2013). Documentation and description of subordinate clauses in Koorete (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Sasse, H.-J. (1976). Dasenech. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia (pp. 196–221). African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Savà, G., & Tosco, M. (2000). A sketch of Ongota. Studies in African Linguistics, 29(2), 59–135.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Savà, G. (2005). A grammar of Ts’amakko. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schneider-Blum, G. (2007). A grammar of Alaaba: A highland East Cushitic language. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sellassie, Cheru. (2015). Documentation and grammatical description of Gofa (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Siebert, R. (1994). Languages of the Abbaya/Chamo area – report part 1, with notes on Koorete. Survey of Little-known Languages of Ethiopia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sileshi, Workneh & Yohannes Latamo. (1995). Sidaama – Amharic – English Compilation of Terms. Department of Culture and Sports, Sidaama Zone.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Taddese, Sibamo. (2015). Documentation and description of Hadiyya: A Highland East Cushitic language of Ethiopia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Theil, R. (2012). Omotic. In L. Edzard (Ed.), Semitic and Afroasiatic. Challenges and opportunities (pp. 369–384). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Thompson, E. D. (1983). Kunama: Phonology and noun phrase. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), Nilo-Saharan language studies (pp. 281–322). Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tilahun, Wubet. (2009). The morphology of Kafinoonoo (B.A. senior essay). Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tizazu, Atimo. (2010). The dialects of Benchnon (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Tolemariam, Fufa. (2009). A typology of verbal derivation in Ethiopian Afro-Asiatic Languages (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Leiden University.
Tornay, S. (1981). The Nyangatom. An outline of their ecology and social organization. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), Peoples and cultures of the Ethio-Sudan borderlands (pp. 137–178). Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tosco, M. (2001). The Dhasaanac language. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2006). The Ideophones in Gawwada. In S. Uhlig (Ed.), Proceedings of the XVth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (pp. 885–892). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Treis, Y. (2008). A grammar of Kambaata. Part 1: Phonology, nominal morphology, and non-verbal predication. Köppe.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2014). Interrogativity in Baskeet. In R. Meyer, Y. Treis, & A. Amha (Eds.), Explorations in Ethiopian linguistics: Complex predicates, finiteness and interrogativity (pp. 41–78). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Triulzi, A. (1975). Trade, Islam and the Mahdia in Northwestern Wallagga, Ethiopia. Journal of African History, 16, 55–71. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Triulzi, A., Dafallah, A. A. and Bender, Lionel M. (1976). Berta. In Bender, M. Lionel (ed.), The Non-Semitic Languages of Ethiopia, 513–532. East Lansing, Michigan: African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tsehay, Mengesha. (2011). Relative clause in Borna. Unpublished M.A. thesis. Department of Linguistics, Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tsuge, Y. (2003). Aari. In S. Uhlig (Ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica (Vol. 1, pp. 1–2). Harrassowitz.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Turton, M. L., & Bender, M. L. (1976). Mursi. In M. L. Bender (Ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia (pp. 533–561). African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Williamson, K., & Blench, R. (2000). Niger-Congo. In B. Heine & D. Nurse (Eds.), African languages. An introduction (pp. 11–42). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wondimu, Gaga. (2010). Sociolinguistic facts about the Gamo area, South Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: ARCCIKL.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wondwosen, Tesfaye. (2006). Aspects of Diratata morphology and syntax. A lexical-functional approach (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
. (2015). A grammar of Mosittacha. Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures, Addis Ababa University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wossen, Mekonnen. (2020). Documentation and grammatical description of Oyda (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Zaugg-Coretti, S. A. (2013). The Yemsa language (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Zurich.
Zelalem, Gudeta. (2013). Interrogative constructions in Poko Allete (Gawwada) (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Addis Ababa University.
Zelealem, Leyew. (2004). The fate of endangered languages in Ethiopia. In J. A. Argenter & R. McKenna Brown (Eds.), Proceedings of the Eighth Foundation of Endangered Languages Conference (pp. 35–46).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2005). Gwama, a little-known language of Ethiopia: The sketch of its grammar and lexicon. Working Papers in Linguistics (Vol. 1(1), pp. 1–52). Ethiopian Languages Research Center, Addis Ababa University. Retrieved on 18 June 2023 from [URL]
. (2020). Kolisi. In R. Vossen & G. Dimmendaal (Eds.), Oxford handbook of African languages (pp. 553–575). Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Völkel, Svenja, Sambulo Ndlovu & Nico Nassenstein
2023. Naming and labelling contexts of cultural importance in Africa. International Journal of Language and Culture 10:2 ► pp. 145 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 8 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue