Alternate Names: Dizu, Ghimarra, Gimarra, Gimira
Dialects: Bench (Bencho, Benesho), Mer (Mieru), She (Kaba, Sce).
Genealogy:
Demographics: 347,000 (2007 census). 14,300 Mer. 150,000 monolinguals. L2 users: 22,600.
Language Use: Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Sheko [she].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 12% Amharic. Pilot education project begun in 2008. Radio programs. NT: 1990.
Typology: SOV; tonal, 5 level tones, 1 glide.
Writing System: Ethiopic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Ethiopia
Other Comments: Traditional religion.