Alternate Names: Afan Oromo, “Galla” (pej.), Oromiffa, Oromoo
Dialects: Central Oromo, Western Oromo. Subdialects are Mecha (Maccha, Wellaga, Wallaga, Wollega), Raya, Wello (Wollo), and Tulema (Tulama, Shoa, Shewa). Harar and Boran are most divergent. A member of macrolanguage Oromo ,.
Status Notes: West Central Oromo , is lingua franca of the area, but some have negative attitudes toward it.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 8,920,000 in Ethiopia (1994 census). 25,500,000 all Oromo speakers in Ethiopia (2007 census). Population total all countries: 8,922,200. Ethnic population: 30,000,000.
Language Use: Also use Amharic [amh]. Used as L2 by Komo [xom], Kwama [kmq].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 22%. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1899–1998.
Typology: SOV.
Writing System: Ethiopic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Ethiopia
Other Comments: In Ethiopia, Oromo is viewed as 1 people who speak 1 language. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.