The East Cushitic languages comprise more than thirty languages belonging to the Cushitic family within the Afro-Asiatic phylum. East Cushitic languages are spoken mainly in Ethiopia but also in Somalia and Kenya. The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages phylum, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... Map showing the distribution of Afro-Asiatic languages The Afro-Asiatic languages are a language family of about 240 languages and 285 million people widespread throughout North Africa, East Africa, the Sahel, and Southwest Asia. ... The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityopiya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. ... Somalia (Somali: Soomaaliya; Arabic: الصومال, As-Sumal), formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal nation in East Africa. ... Kenya (pronounced as KEN-ya) is a country of East Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and the Indian Ocean. ...

The most prominent East Cushitic language is Oromo, with about 21 million speakers. Other prominant languages include Somali (in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti) with about 15 million speakers, Sidamo (Ethiopia) with about 2 million speakers, and Afar (Eritrea) with about 1.5 million. The Oromo language is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic sub-phylum. ... The Somali language is a member of the Cushitic languages. ... Somalia (Somali: Soomaaliya; Arabic: الصومال, As-Sumal), formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal nation in East Africa. ... The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityopiya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. ... The Republic of Djibouti (جيبوتي) is a country in eastern Africa, located in the Horn of Africa. ... The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityopiya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. ... Afar is an East Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. ... National motto: None Official languages Tigrigna, Arabic and English Capital Asmara President Isaias Afewerki Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 96th 121,320 km² Negligible Population  - Total (2002)  - Density Ranked 118th 4,298,269 37/km² Independence  - Limited  - Fully From Ethiopia  May 29, 1991  May 24, 1993 Currency Nakfa Time zone UTC...

In the internal classification of East Cushitic, the most common major division is between Highland East Cushitic and Lowland East Cushitic. Western Omo-Tana is a distinct branch, as are the two branches represented by the endangered languages Yaaku and Boon.

List of Eastern Cushitic languages

• Highland East Cushitic
  • Alaba (or Alaaba)
  • Burji
  • Gedeo
  • Hadiyya (or Hadiya)
  • Kambaata
  • Libido
  • Sidamo
• Lowland East Cushitic
  • Rendille-Boni (Rendille and Boni)
  • Somali
  • Saho-Afar languages
    • Saho
    • Afar
  • Konso-Gidole
    • Konso (or Komso)
    • Dirasha (or Gidole, Kidole, Diraytata)
  • Oromo
  • Dullay
    • Bussa (endangered)
    • Gawwada
    • Tsamai
• Western Omo-Tana
  • Arbore
  • Baiso
  • Daasanach
  • El Molo/Elmolo (extinct)
• Yaaku (endangered)
• Boon (endangered, possibly extinct)

The Somali language is a member of the Cushitic languages. ... The Saho language is an East Cushitic language of Eritrea, spoken in the middle of the country, as well as by a small group across the border in Ethiopia. ... Afar is an East Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. ... Konso (or Komso, Conso) is a East Cushitic language spoken in South West Ethiopia. ... The Oromo language is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic sub-phylum. ... Bussa (or Muusiye) is a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Dirashe region in the South West of Ethiopia. ...

External link

• East Cushitic (http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=90096) on the Ethnologue.