Alternate Names: Shak, Shako, Shekka, Shekko, Tschako
Dialects: None known. Distinct from Shabo ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 38,400 (2007 census). 13,600 monolinguals (1994 census). L2 users: 4,920.
Language Use: Home, religion, community. Also use Amharic [amh], Bench [bcq].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 16%. L1 pilot education classes starting (2011). Radio programs.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix, 5 suffixes; word order distinguishes subjects, objects, indirect objects; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; passives, causatives, comparatives; CV, CVC, CVV, CV:C, CVCC; tonal, 3 tones.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Ethiopia
Other Comments: Traditional religion.