The Agaw, or Central Cushitic, languages are Afroasiatic languages spoken by several groups in Ethiopia and, in one case, Eritrea. They form the main substratum influence on Amharic and other Ethio-Semitic languages.
Facts
RegionSpoken by several groups in Ethiopia and, in the case of Bilen, in Eritrea; the largest group, Awngi, is spoken southwest of Lake Tana. 1 Proto-Language StatusA proto-language, Proto-Agaw, has been reconstructed by comparative linguists, notably David Appleyard, documented in a dedicated list of Proto-Agaw reconstructions. 1 Partially Attested
Speaker CountSum of the three published constituent-language figures: Awngi over 350,000, Bilen 70,000, Xamtanga 143,000. Excludes Qimant, described as nearly extinct with no published speaker count. Connections
Descends From
Agaw (Central Cushitic) is a branch of the Cushitic family spoken in the Ethiopian highlands.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Agaw Languages
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
The Agaw or Central Cushitic languages are Afroasiatic languages spoken by several groups in Ethiopia and, in one case, Eritrea.
Classification section
Awngi (South Agaw) spoken southwest of Lake Tana, much the largest, with over 350,000 speakers
See also section
List of Proto-Agaw reconstructions (Wiktionary)
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