Alternate Names: Dhirasha, Diraasha, Dirayta, Gardulla, Ghidole, Gidole
Dialects: Kusumitta, Mosiya. Part of a dialect subgroup with Konso , and Bussa ,. Lexical similarity: 55% with Konso ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 65,300 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 90,000 (2005 SIL). 41,100 Gidole, 7,470 Kusumitta (2007 census). L2 users: 7,000.
Language Use: All domains except education. All ages. Neutral attitudes. Also use Amharic [amh], Bussa [dox], Eastern Oromo [hae], Komo [xom], Konso [kxc]. Used as L2 by Bussa [dox].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Trial L1 classes started in 2006; basic primer tested.
Typology: SOV; verb suffix morphology shows causative, reflexive, subject person, number, gender.
Writing System: Ethiopic
Nation of Origin: Ethiopia
Other Comments: Christian.