An investigation into the maintenance of the Maale language in Ethiopia

Abstract

For centuries Maale, a minority language spoken in the Omo region of Ethiopia, has been in contact with Amharic, the dominant language and the language of wider communication in Ethiopia. In spite of this prolonged contact situation, there is very little evidence of a language shift taking place in the Maale speech community. This paper aims to give an account of the underlying social factors that have contributed to the maintenance of the Maale language. Ethnographic research, using participant‐observation, field‐notes, as well as intense interviews with key informants, was conducted in the Maale speech community. Paulston's theory of social mobilisation was applied to the findings of this research into the Maale language. An analysis of the data suggests that regional nationalism, which is isomorphic with ethnic groups in Ethiopia, such as the Maale, corresponds to ethnic nationalism of Paulston's model and is the reason why the Maale language has been maintained as a viable language in spite of centuries of political repression.

Keywords:

• Amhararisation
• ethnicity
• language loyalty
• language maintenance
• language shift
• nationalism