Alternate Names: Bega, Bega-Tse, Debatsa, Debuga, Dehenda, Gombo, Gumis, Gumuzinya, Mendeya, “Shankilligna” (pej.), “Shankillinya” (pej.), “Shanqilla” (pej.), Sigumza
Dialects: Agalo, Dibate, Guba, Mandura, Metemma, Sirba, Wenbera, Yaso. Noticeable dialect differences, and not all dialects are inherently intelligible. Mandura, Dibate, and Metemma form a distinct dialect subgroup.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 179,000 in Ethiopia (2007 census). Population total all countries: 219,000. 88,200 monolinguals. L2 users: 4,380 in Ethiopia.
Language Use: Limited comprehension of Eastern Oromo [hae].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 6%. NT: 2003.
Typology: SVO; verb affixes show person, number of subject, first plural inclusive and exclusive; tonal, 3 tones.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Ethiopia
Other Comments: Connections between villages for intermarriage and trade. Traditional religion.