Majang language

Majangir is spoken in Ethiopia from the same people and belongs to the group of Surmischen languages, but it is different from other languages ​​of this group largely isolated. A language survey has shown that there are few variations of dialects, which have an insignificant effect on the understanding. The Ethiopian census in 2007 recorded 6,433 Majangirsprecher, are, however, also indicates that the ethnic group of about 32 822 people Majangir from there. According to this census are almost no Majangirsprecher in Mezhenger zone of the Administrative Region Gambela. A total of eleven speakers are found in this zone, but almost 10,000 people of Majangir - people.

Pronunciation

The length of the vowels is characteristic of the Majangir language therefore enter all vowels in long and short pairs, such as goopan ( penalty) and Gopan (path ). Moges argues for a tenth vowel, ɐ, while Bender was able to confirm only six vowels. However, all authors agree that the Majang knows no ATR harmony.

In addition, two tones distinguish the meaning of words and grammar: tan ( higher tone ) "Cow ", tan ( lower tone) " abscess ".

Morphology

The Majangir language has different registration numbers to display three different past and two future forms. Furthermore, the language in a large number of suffixes, while there is almost no prefixes. Although its use is limited to a few origins, a few words have i- preserved remains of the archaic Kausativpräfixes - a prefix that was found in other languages ​​surmischen and in the Nilotic language.

The number system is a modified vigesimal, based on the numbers 5, 10 and 20 Twenty is " a whole person " (with his ten fingers and toes), are therefore Forty " two whole people " and hundreds are " five whole people ". However, to be used under school-based influence and increased bilingualism for hundreds of the Amharic words or the words from the Oromo language. A distinction of inclusive and exclusive we, as in neighboring and related languages ​​, does not take place.

Syntax

The basic word order of subject- predicate is Majangir object, for emphasis or highlighting a certain flexibility is allowed. Furthermore, falls on a frequent use of relative clauses, even for descriptions, for which one would use in the German usually adjectives.