English

Fekede Alemayehu,Gemechu Takele

doi:10.5897/jlc2016.0329

Abstract

This study investigates the strength of the ethnolinguistic vitality of different languages in Adama, Jimma and Sabata towns, mainly based on the objective of ethnolinguistic vitality score. A corpus of 900 signs were collected from the three towns, 300 signs each. The informational contents of the languages on signs were observed. Data were also collected using in depth interview with five linguistic landscape actors living in each town. Then the signs were given a value based on the presence and amount of information, and analyzed quantitatively. Ethnolinguistic vitality score system was used as analytical frame. Moreover, the collected signs were also analyzed qualitatively from the power and ideology perspective. The study reveals that Amharic scores the highest etnolinguistic vitality score in the three of Oromia towns, followed  by English. Afan Oromo’s (Oromo Language) etnolinguistic score is  the least, despite the fact that it is the regional government’s official working language. Key words: Linguistic landscape, etnolinguistic vitality, critical discourse analysis, language shift, sign, Oromia.

Highlights

Many studies show that a significant proportion of the world‟s estimated 6000-7000 languages are under threat (Crystal, 2000, p. 18)
The purpose of this study was to examine the ethnolinguistic vitality of three towns in Oromia, namely Adama, Sabata and Jimma based on linguistic landscape of the towns and other subjective vitality markers
Some of the most significant findings are: 1. Amharic is the strongest language in its ethnolinguistic vitality in the selected Oromia towns, which puts Afan Oromo, the language that survived a century of suppression, at risk

Summary

Introduction

Many studies show that a significant proportion of the world‟s estimated 6000-7000 languages are under threat (Crystal, 2000, p. 18). Many studies show that a significant proportion of the world‟s estimated 6000-7000 languages are under threat Some linguists have forecasted that as many as 90% of the world‟s languages are in danger of extinction at the end of this century due to different factors All languages need to be preserved at least for the following five reasons: “diversity, identity, history, human knowledge and aesthetics of languages” In the Ethiopian context, there is no overt language policy that gives clear guideline to maintain languages within the current dynamic global world, despite the fact that the constitution guarantees that all languages are „equal‟ and all ethnolinguistic groups have the right to develop their own languages (Constitution of Ethiopia 1995, Article 5)

Objectives

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Conclusion