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Writing systems:
abjads |
alphabets |
syllabic alphabets |
syllabaries |
semanto-phonetic scripts
undeciphered scripts |
alternative scripts |
your con-scripts |
A-Z index |
Direction index |
Language index
Afaan Oromo is a Cushitic language spoken by about 32 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Egypt and is the 3rd largest language in Africa. The Oromo people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and account for more than 40% of the population. They can be found all over Ethiopia and particularly in Wollega, Shoa, Illubabour, Jimma, Arsi, Bale, Hararghe, Wollo, Borana, and the southwestern part of Gojjam.
Until the 1970s, Afaan Oromo was written with either the Ge'ez script or the Latin alphabet Then during the early 1970s, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) chose the Latin alphabet as the official alphabet to write Afaan Oromo. Between 1974 and 1991 under the Mengistu regime the writing of Afaan Oromo in any script was forbidden, though limited usage of the Ge'ez script was allowed.
On 3rd November 1991 the OLF convened a meeting of over 1,000 Oromo intellectuals to decide which alphabet to use to write Afaan Ormo. After a many hours of debate, they decided unanimously to adopt the Latin alphabet.
Source: www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Hornet/Afaan_Oromo_19777.html
Namooti hundinuu birmaduu ta'anii mirgaa fi ulfinaanis wal-qixxee ta'anii dhalatan. Sammuu fi qalbii ittiin yaadan waan uumamaan kennameef, hafuura obbolummaatiin walii-wajjin jiraachuu qabu.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Language courses
for Afaan Oromo and other African languages (en français)
An introduction to the Afaan Oromo language and alphabet
http://ethnomed.org/ethnomed/cultures/oromo/alphabet.html
Online Afaan Oromo radio
http://www.kfai.org/node/129
http://www.voanews.com/horn/afaan_oromoo_audio.cfm
The Oromo Orthography of Shaykh Bakri Sapalo
http://www.abyssiniacybergateway.net/fidel/ShaykhBakriSapalo/
Other languages written with the Latin alphabet
Copyright 1998- Simon Ager