View source for Omotic languages

{{short description|Language family of Ethiopia and Sudan}}
{{distinguish|Omotik language}}
{{Expand Swedish|date=November 2018}}{{Infobox language family
| name          = Omotic
| region        = [[Ethiopia]], Sudan
| protoname     = [[#Reconstruction|Proto-Omotic]]
| familycolor   = Afroasiatic
| child1        = [[North Omotic languages|Damotic]]
| child2        = [[Dizoid languages|Dizoid]]
| iso5          = omv
| glotto        = none
| map           = Omotic Languages.png
| mapcaption    = Current and pre-[[Oromo expansion|Oromo invasion]] distribution of the Omotic languages
| ancestor      = 
| glottoname    = 
| glottorefname = 
| notes         = 
| speakers      = {{sigfig|7.889470|2}} million<ref name="Omotic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/1085/|title=Omotic languages|work=Ethnologue (Free All) |publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=6 March 2024|archive-date=9 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309054611/https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/1085/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| child3        = [[Mao languages|Mao]]
| child4        = [[Aroid languages|Aroid]]
}}
The '''Omotic languages''' are a traditionally recognized but disputed grouping of languages spoken mainly in southwestern [[Ethiopia]], around the [[Omo River]] region, and in parts of southeastern [[Sudan]] ([[Blue Nile State]]). This classification conventionally includes the [[Damotic languages|Damotic]] (North Omotic), [[Dizoid languages|Dizoid]] (Majoid), [[Mao languages|Mao]] and [[Aroid languages|Aroid]] (South Omotic) languages.

Some of these languages are written in the [[Geʽez script]], while others use the [[Latin script|Latin alphabet]]. They are generally [[Agglutination|agglutinative]] and exhibit complex [[Tone (linguistics)|tonal]] systems, as in the [[Bench language]]. The group comprises about 7.9&nbsp;million speakers.<ref name="Omotic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/1085/|title=Omotic languages|work=Ethnologue (Free All) |publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=6 March 2024|archive-date=9 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309054611/https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/1085/|url-status=live}}</ref>

They are generally classified within the [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic family]], though the internal coherence of Omotic as a linguistic unit is questioned by some linguists. For example, Güldemann<ref name="Guldemann">{{Cite book |last=Güldemann |first=Tom |title=The Languages and Linguistics of Africa |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |year=2018 |isbn=978-3-11-042606-9 |editor-last=Güldemann |editor-first=Tom |series=The World of Linguistics series |volume=11 |location=Berlin |pages=58–444 |chapter=Historical linguistics and genealogical language classification in Africa |doi=10.1515/9783110421668-002 |s2cid=133888593}}</ref> treats Damotic and Dizoid as Afroasiatic, but considers Mao and Aroid to be separate language groups outside Afroasiatic, influenced by contact with North Omotic.

==Classification==
The Omotic languages are generally considered the most divergent branch of the [[Afroasiatic languages]], but both their internal unity and their Afroasiatic affiliation are debated. In 19th-century classifications linguists such as [[Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie|d’Abbadie]] and [[Robert Gordon Latham|Latham]] grouped most of what are now classified as Damotic under the name Gonga (including the [[Ometo languages]]) and treated them as "Hamitic languages of Great [[Damot (historical region)|Damot]]".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Beke |first=Charles T. |date=1850 |title=On the Geographical Distribution of the Languages of Abessinia and the Neighbouring Countries |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3014123 |journal=Journal of the Ethnological Society of London (1848–1856) |volume=2 |pages=214–221 |doi=10.2307/3014123 |issn=1368-0358|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Needham Cust |first=Robert |url=https://dn790001.ca.archive.org/0/items/sketchofmodernla01cust_0/sketchofmodernla01cust_0.pdf |title=A sketch of the modern languages of Africa |publisher=Trübner & Co. |year=1883 |location=London |pages=139–140}}</ref> Later classifications up to [[Joseph Greenberg|Greenberg]] (1963) placed the Omotic languages within [[Cushitic languages|Cushitic]] as "West Cushitic". [[Harold C. Fleming|Fleming]] (1969) argued instead that Omotic should be considered an independent branch of Afroasiatic, a view largely accepted after [[Lionel Bender|Bender]] (1971),<ref>[[#CITEREFHayward2000|Hayward 2000]], p. 85.</ref> although some scholars still support the West Cushitic position<ref>[[#CITEREFLamberti1991|Lamberti 1991]].</ref><ref>[[#CITEREFZaborksi1986|Zaborksi 1986]].</ref> or propose that only part of Omotic is independent, with North Omotic remaining Cushitic. [[Roger Blench|Blench]] notes that Omotic shares [[honey]]-related vocabulary with Cushitic but not cattle-related terms, suggesting a very early split, possibly before the spread of [[Pastoral Neolithic|pastoralism]].<ref>[[#CITEREFBlench2006|Blench 2006]], pp. 150–152.</ref>

The main groups usually distinguished are [[North Omotic languages|Damotic]] (North Omotic), [[Dizoid languages|Dizoid]] (Maji), [[Mao languages|Mao]], and [[Aroid languages|Aroid]] (Ari-Banna or South Omotic). Damotic is generally considered the clearest candidate for Afroasiatic affiliation, while Dizoid shows some Afroasiatic features but its classification remains uncertain and requires further research.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Theil |first=Rolf |title=Omotic |url=https://www.academia.edu/4340879 |journal=University of Oslo |via=}}</ref> In contrast, it has been argued that Mao and Aroid may not belong to the Omotic family at all.

The Mao languages, spoken on the [[Ethiopia–Sudan border|Sudan-Ethiopian border]], are poorly documented and show strong influence from [[Koman languages]]. Because of this and the lack of basic descriptive work, their genealogical affiliation remains unclear.

The Aroid languages are the most controversial. Their external classification has long been disputed, with proposals linking them to [[Nilo-Saharan languages]]. At the same time, scholars acknowledge heavy contact influence from neighboring Nilo-Saharan ([[Surmic languages|Surmic]] and [[Nilotic languages|Nilotic]]) languages and from Afroasiatic languages, including Damotic, Dizoid, and Cushitic. [[Tom Güldemann|Güldemann]] (2018) stresses that existing proposals do not adequately distinguish inherited features from areal effects, making it impossible to reach firm conclusions. As a result, Aroid is often treated as a possibly isolated family with no established higher-level affiliation.

Recent [[Genome-wide association study|genome-wide]] and [[ancient DNA]] studies provide independent support for this linguistic separation: Damotic groups such as the [[Welayta people|Wolayta]] cluster genetically with [[Cushitic-speaking peoples|Cushitic speakers]] and bear substantial [[Eurasian backflow|West Eurasian admixture]], whereas Aroid populations such as the [[Aari people|Aari]] show stronger continuity with the ancient local [[hunter-gatherer]] [[Genetic history of Eastern Africa#Ethiopia|Mota]] genome and much lower levels of that Eurasian signal. This clear genetic discontinuity complements the linguistic evidence, reinforcing the view that Damotic and Aroid are not closely related genealogically, but instead reflect distinct population histories, and supports the interpretation that any linguistic similarities between them are primarily the result of long-term contact rather than common descent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pagani |first1=Luca |last2=Kivisild |first2=Toomas |last3=Tarekegn |first3=Ayele |last4=Ekong |first4=Rosemary |last5=Plaster |first5=Chris |last6=Gallego Romero |first6=Irene |last7=Ayub |first7=Qasim |last8=Mehdi |first8=S. Qasim |last9=Thomas |first9=Mark G. |last10=Luiselli |first10=Donata |last11=Bekele |first11=Endashaw |last12=Bradman |first12=Neil |last13=Balding |first13=David J. |last14=Tyler-Smith |first14=Chris |date=2012-07-13 |title=Ethiopian Genetic Diversity Reveals Linguistic Stratification and Complex Influences on the Ethiopian Gene Pool |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002929712002716 |journal=The American Journal of Human Genetics |volume=91 |issue=1 |pages=83–96 |doi=10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.05.015 |pmid=22726845 |issn=0002-9297}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pickrell |first1=Joseph K. |last2=Patterson |first2=Nick |last3=Loh |first3=Po-Ru |last4=Lipson |first4=Mark |last5=Berger |first5=Bonnie |last6=Stoneking |first6=Mark |last7=Pakendorf |first7=Brigitte |last8=Reich |first8=David |date=2014-02-18 |title=Ancient west Eurasian ancestry in southern and eastern Africa |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=111 |issue=7 |pages=2632–2637 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1313787111 |doi-access=free |issn=1091-6490 |pmc=3932865 |pmid=24550290 |arxiv=1307.8014 |bibcode=2014PNAS..111.2632P }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Walsh |first1=Sandra |last2=Pagani |first2=Luca |last3=Xue |first3=Yali |last4=Laayouni |first4=Hafid |last5=Tyler-Smith |first5=Chris |last6=Bertranpetit |first6=Jaume |date=2020-10-22 |title=Positive selection in admixed populations from Ethiopia |journal=BMC Genetics |volume=21 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=108 |doi=10.1186/s12863-020-00908-5 |doi-access=free |issn=1471-2156 |pmc=7580818 |pmid=33092534}}</ref>

Because of these issues, some linguists, including Güldemann, classify only Damotic and Dizoid as Afroasiatic, while treating Mao and Aroid as separate groups outside Afroasiatic that have been strongly shaped by contact.<ref name="Guldemann" />

{{tree list}}'''Omotic'''?
**[[North Omotic languages|Damotic]]
***[[Gonga languages|Gonga]] ([[Shinasha language|Shinasha]], [[Anfillo language|Anfillo]], [[Kafa language|Kafa]], [[Shekkacho language|Shekkacho]])
***Gimojan
****[[Yemsa language|Yemsa]]
****Ometo–Gimira
*****[[Bench language|Bench]]
*****[[Chara language|Chara]]
*****[[Ometo languages|Ometo]]
******North Ometo ([[Wolaitta language|Wolaita]], [[Gamo-Gofa-Dawro language|Gamo-Gofa-Dawro]], [[Dorze language|Dorze]], [[Melo language|Melo]], [[Oyda language|Oyda]], [[Basketo language|Basketo]])
******East Ometo ([[Koore language|Koorete]], [[Zayse-Zergulla language|Zayse-Zergulla]], [[Kachama-Ganjule language|Kachama-Ganjule]])
******[[Maale language|Maale]]
**[[Dizoid languages|Dizoid]] ([[Dizi language|Dizi]], [[Sheko language|Sheko]], [[Nayi language|Nayi]])
**[[Mao languages|Mao]] ([[Bambassi language|Bambassi]], [[Hozo language|Hozo]], [[Seze language|Seze]], [[Ganza language|Ganza]])
**[[Aroid languages|Aroid]] ([[Hamer language|Hamer]], [[Aari language|Aari]], [[Gayil language|Gayil]], [[Dime language|Dime]]){{tree list/end}}

==Characteristics==
===General===
The Omotic languages have a morphology that is partly [[agglutinative]] and partly [[fusional]]:
* Agglutinating: Yem ''am-se-f-∅-à'' go+plural+present+3. Person+Femininum “they go”<ref>Mammo Girma: ''Yemsa Verb Morphology. Some Inflections and Derivations.'' 1986, quoted from {{harvnb|Bender|2000|p=120}}; Clay marking according to the different forms in {{harvnb|Lamberti|1993|p=190}}</ref>
* Fusional: Aari ''ʔíts-eka'' eat+3. Person Pl. [[Converb]] "by eating"<ref>{{harvnb|Hayward|1990}} quoted in {{harvnb|Bender|2000|p=171}}</ref>
[[Inflection]] through [[Suprafix|suprasegmental morphemes]] is found in individual languages such as Dizi and Bench; Historically, these are partly reflexes of [[affixes]]: 
* Bench ''sum˩'' "name", ''sum-s˦'' "to name"
The [[Nominal (linguistics)|nominal morphology]] is based on a [[nominative]]-[[accusative]]-[[absolutive]] system; for [[verbal morphology]], a complex inflection according to categories such as [[Grammatical tense|tense]]/[[aspect (linguistics)|aspect]], interrogative/declarative, and affirmative/negative, as well as [[agreement (linguistics)|agreement]], is more predicative, characterizing forms with the [[subject (grammar)|subject]]. In syntax, the word order [[subject-object-verb]] (SOV) is generally valid; [[postposition]]s are used, which can be considered typical for both SOV languages in general and for the Ethiopian region.

===Phonology===
The Omotic languages have on average slightly less than thirty [[consonant]] [[phonemes]], which is a comparatively high number, but is also found in other primary branches of Afro-Asiatic. Commonly used are [[bilabial]], [[Alveolar consonant|alveolar]], [[Velar consonant|velar]] and [[glottal plosive]], various [[fricative]], alveolar [[affricates]] and /w/, /j/, /l/, /r/, /m/, /n/. What is typical for the non-glottal plosives is that they are each represented by a voiced, a voiceless, and an [[ejective]] phoneme; All three types can also be found in fricatives and affricates. Most Omotic languages have additional consonants. Examples of this are the [[Implosive]] in South Omotic (/ɓ/, /ɗ/, /ɠ/) and the [[Retroflex]] of the Bench. In some cases, consonants can also occur [[Gemination|geminated]]. Representatives of the Nordomotic and Mao have five to six [[vowel|vowel phonemes]], the quantity is partly a difference in meaning; In contrast, much more extensive vowel systems are typical for South Omotic.

All Omotic languages for which sufficient data is available are [[tonal languages]], which usually only distinguish two tones (high and low), some languages have more tones: Dizi distinguishes three, Bench six. Certain Omotic languages such as Aari and Ganza (Mao) have tonal accent systems in which each independent word has exactly one high tone, whereas in most languages the tones are freely distributed.

===Morphology===
====Nouns====
The Omotic languages distinguish between the nominal categories [[Grammatical number|number]], [[Grammatical case|case]],<ref>R. Hayward, Y. Tsuge: ''Concerning case in Omotic.'' In: ''Africa and Overseas. '' Volume 81, pp. 21–38. 1998.</ref> and [[definiteness (linguistics)|definiteness]]. These categories are marked by different suffixes, which can be fusional or analytic depending on the language. The two genders in all omotic languages for which sufficient data are available are [[masculine]] and [[feminine]]; they essentially correspond to natural gender. The case system distinguishes the omotic languages as accusative languages; other cases form various adverbial determinations. A number of omotic languages have an [[absolutive]] case, which marks the citation form and the direct object (examples from Wolaita):{{sfn|Bender|2000|p=21}}
* Absolute ''keett-a'' "the house"
* Nominative ''keett-i'' "the house"
Some common case suffixes are:
* Nominative *-''i'' (Gonga-Gimojan, Dizi-Sheko)
* Accusative *-''m'' (South Domotic)
* Genitive *-''kV'' (Gonga-Gimojan, Dizi-Sheko, Mao, Dime)
* Dative *-''s'' (Gonga-Gimojan, Dizi-Sheko, Mao?{{sfn|Bender|2000|p=212}})
A typological peculiarity, which is also isolated within Omotic, is the person and gender dependency of the nominative in Bench (either -''i''˧ or -''a''˧, depending on the person):
* ''a˦tsin˦-a˧'' "a woman" (3rd person sg. femininum){{sfn|Bender|2000|p=127}}
* ''nun˧-a˧'' "we" (1st person plural exclusive)<ref name="Breeze">Mary J. Breeze: ''Personal Pronouns in Gimira (Benchnon).'' In: [[Ursula_Wiesemann]] (Ed.): ''Pronominal Systems.'' Narr, Tübingen 1986, ISBN 3-87808-335-1, pp. 47–70, p. 53.</ref>
* ''nas˦i˧'' "a man" (3rd person sg. masculine)<ref name="Breeze" />

In most languages, the [[Grammatical number|singular]] is unmarked, while the plural has its own [[suffix]]. It is possible that plural suffixes in some languages arose from a partitive construction. This is supported by the length of certain plural suffixes, formal relationships to the genitive singular and the fact that the determining suffix sometimes comes before the plural suffix, which is typologically unusual:{{sfn|Hayward|2003|p=246}}{{sfn|Lamberti|1993|p=70 f}}
* Dizi ''kìan-à-kʾankàs'' dog+det.+plural "the dogs"{{sfn|Bender|2000}}
* Yem ''ʔasú-nì-kitó'' human+gene+plural "people"{{sfn|Lamberti|1993|p=71}}

====Pronouns====
The [[personal pronouns]] distinguish similar categories to the nouns in most omotic languages; However, the genera are usually only marked in the 3rd person singular. The personal pronouns usually have their own stem for each number-person-gender combination, to which case suffixes are then added, which are the same for all persons. Some of the pronouns show similarities with other Afro-Asian language families and can therefore be traced back to Proto-Afro-Asiatic; Certain South Omotic personal pronouns can be explained as borrowings from the neighboring Nilo-Saharan:<ref>Reconstructions according to {{harvnb|Bender|2000|p=196}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="3" colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | 1st person
! colspan="2" | 2nd person
! colspan="3" | 3rd person
|-
! rowspan="2" | sg. !! rowspan="2" | pl.
! rowspan="2" | sg. !! rowspan="2" | pl.
! colspan="2" | sg. !! rowspan="2" | pl.
|-
! m.
! f.
|-
| rowspan="5" | Omotic
| colspan="8" | Nordomotic
|-
| Proto-Gonga-Gimojan
| *ta
| *nu~*no
| *no
| *int-
| *isi
| ?
| *is-
|-
| Proto-Dizi-Sheko
| *ǹ
| *ń
| *yeta
| *iti
| *iz-
| *iži
| *iš-
|-
| Proto-Mao
| *ti-
| ?
| *hiya
| *nam
| ?
| ?
| ?
|-
| Proto-Southomotic
| *inta
| *wo-ta
| *yaa/*in
| *ye-ta
| *nuo
| *naaa
| *ke-ta
|-
| rowspan="2" | Other
| Afroasiatic: Akkadian
| ī
| nī
| k-a/k-ī
| k-unu/k-ina
| š-u
| š-a
| š-unu/š-ina
|-
| Nilotic: Teso{{sfn|Bender|2000|p=163}}
| ɛɔŋɔ
| ɔnɪ/ɪs(y)ɔ
| ɪjɔ
| yɛsɪ
| colspan="2" | ŋɛsɪ
| kɛsɪ
|}

The case endings of the personal pronouns and the nouns are usually identical:
* Aari: Accusative -m: ''yé-m'' "you", ''fatir-in-ám'' "the corn"
Possessive pronouns in particular have their own forms:
* Aari: ''yé'' "yours," ''ʔéed-te'' "a man's"

==Reconstruction==
[[Lionel Bender|Bender]] (1987: 33–35)<ref name="Bender, Lionel M 1987">Bender, Lionel M. 1987. "First Steps Toward proto-Omotic." ''Current Approaches to African Linguistics'' 3 (1987): 21–36.</ref> reconstructs the following proto-forms for Proto-Omotic and Proto-North Omotic, the latter which is considered to have descended from Proto-Omotic.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! English gloss !! Proto-<br>Omotic !! Proto-North <br>Omotic
|-
| ashes || *bend || 
|-
| bird || *kaf || 
|-
| bite ||  || *sats’
|-
| breast || *t’iam || 
|-
| claw || *ts’ugum || 
|-
| die || *hayk’ || 
|-
| dog || *kan || 
|-
| egg || *ɓul || 
|-
| fire ||  || *tam
|-
| grass || *maata || 
|-
| hand ||  || *kuc
|-
| head || *to- || 
|-
| hear || *si- || 
|-
| mouth || *non- || 
|-
| nose || *si(n)t’ || 
|-
| root || *ts’ab- || 
|-
| snake || *šooš || 
|-
| stand (vb.) ||  || *yek’
|-
| this || *kʰan- || 
|-
| thou (2.SG) || *ne(n) || 
|-
| water || *haats’ || 
|-
| we (1.PL) || *nu(n) || 
|-
| ye (2.PL) || *int- || 
|-
| green || *c’il- || 
|-
| house ||  || *kyet
|-
| left || *hadr- || 
|-
| elephant || *daŋgVr || 
|-
| sister, mother || *ind || 
|-
| armpit ||  || *šoɓ-
|-
| boat || *gong- || 
|-
| grave || *duuk || 
|-
| vomit ||  || *c’oš-
|}

==Comparative vocabulary==
Sample basic vocabulary of 40 Omotic languages from Blažek (2008):<ref>Blažek, Václav. 2008. A lexicostatistical comparison of Omotic languages. In Bengtson (ed.), 57–148.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="font-size: 85%"
! Language !! eye !! ear !! nose !! tooth !! tongue !! mouth !! blood !! bone !! tree !! water !! eat !! name
|-
| [[Basketo language|Basketo]] || af || waytsi || sints || ačči || B ɪnts'ɨrs || no·na || suuts || mεk'εts || B mɪts || B waːtse || A moy- || B sumsa
|-
| [[Dokka language|Dokka]] || af || waytsi || si·nts || ačči || ɨrs'ɪns || no·na || su·ts || mik'әts || mittse || wa·tsi || m- || suntsa
|-
| [[Male language (Ethiopia)|Male]] || ’aːpi || waizi || sied‘i || ’ači || ’ɪndɪrsi || daŋka || sugutsi || mεgεtsi || mitsi || waːtsi || mo- || sunsi
|-
| [[Wolaita language|Wolaita]] || ayf-iya; A ayp'-iya || haytta || sir-iya || acca; A acc'a || int'arsa || doona || suutta; Ch maččamié || mek'etta || mitta || hatta || m- || sunta
|-
| [[Kullo language|Dawro]] || ayp'-iya || haytsa || siid'-iya || acc'a || ins'arsa || doona || sutsa || mek'etsa || barzap'-iya || hatsa || m- || sutta
|-
| [[Kachama-Ganjule language|Cancha]] || ayp'e || hayts || sire || acc‘a || ins‘arsa || doona || suts || mek'etsa || mits || haats || m- || sunts
|-
| [[Melo language|Malo]] || ’áɸe || hʌ́je || síd'e || ’áčʰә || ’irɪ́nts || dɔ́nʌ || sútsʰ || mεk‘ɨ́ts‘ || mɪ́ts || ’átsә || m- || sʊns
|-
| [[Gofa language|Gofa]] || ayp'e || haytsa || siide || acc'a || intsarsa || doona || sutsa || mek'etta || mitsa || hatse || m- || suntsa
|-
| [[Zala language|Zala]] || ayfe || (h)aytsa || sid'e || ačča || int'arsa || duna || tsutsa ||  || mitsa || hatsa || maa- || 
|-
| [[Gamo language|Gamu]] || ayp'e || haytsa || siire || acc'a || ins'arsa || doona || suuts || mek'ets || mitsa || hatse || m- || sunts
|-
| [[Dache language|Dache]] || ayfe || hayts'e || siyd'e || acé || ɪntsεrs || duna || suts || mek'ets || šara || hatse || m- || sunts
|-
| [[Dorze language|Dorze]] || ayp'e || waye || sire || acc'a || ins'arsa || duuna || suts || mek'etsa || mits || haats || m- || sunts
|-
| [[Oyda language|Oyda]] || ápe, ayfe || B haːye || sid'e || ’ač, pl. o·či || iláns || B doːna || suts || mεk'εts || mɪns'a || haytsi || mu’- || suntsu
|-
| [[Zayse language|Zayse]] || ’áaɸε || waayέ || kuŋké || ’acc' || ints'έrε || baadέ || súuts' || mεk'έεte || mits'a || wáats'i || m- || č'úuč'e
|-
| [[Zergulla language|Zergulla]] || ’aːɸe || wai || kuŋki || ’ac'e || ’insәre || haː’e || suːts || nεkεtε || mintsa || waːtse || m- || suːns
|-
| [[Ganjule language|Ganjule]] || ’áaɸε || waašέ || kuŋkε || gaggo || ints'úrε || baadέ || súuts' || mεk'έtε || mits'i || waats'i || m- || ts'únts'i
|-
| [[Gidicho language|Gidicho]] || ’áaɸε || waašέ || kuŋké || gaggo || ints'úrε || baadέ || súuts'i || mεk'εte || míts'i || wáats'i || m- || ts'únts'i
|-
| [[Kachama language|Kachama]] || ’áaɸε || uwaašέ || kuŋkέ || gaggo || ints'úrε || baadέ || súuts'ε || mέk‘έtee || mits'i || wáats'i || m- || ts'únts'i
|-
| [[Koyra language|Koyra]] || ’áɸε || waayέ || siid'ε || gaggo || ’únts'úrε || ’áaša || súuts' || mεk‘έεte || míts'e; Ce akka || wáats'e || múuwa || súuntsi
|-
| [[Chara language|Chara]] || áːpa || wóːya || sínt'u || áč'a || ’íns'ila || noːná || súːta || mertá || mítsa || áːs'a || ḿ-na || sumá
|-
| [[Bench language|Bench]] || ap || (h)ay || sint' || gaš; san || eyts' || non || sut || mert || inč || so’ || m’ || sum
|-
| [[Shekkacho language|She]] || af || ai || sint' || gaš || ets' || non || sut || mεrt || enc || so’ || mma || sum
|-
| [[Yemsa language|Yemsa]] || aafa; kema || odo || siya || a’ya || terma || noono || anna || mega || i’o || aka || me || suna
|-
| [[Boro language (Ethiopia)|Bworo]] || aawa || waaza || šint'a || gaša || albeera || noona || ts'atts'a || mak'әttsa || mitta || aatsa || maa- || šuutsa
|-
| [[Anfillo language|Anfillo]] || aːfo || waːjo || šiːnto || gaːššo || εrɪːtso || nɔːno || ts'antso || šaušo || mɪːtso || yuːro || m || šiːgo
|-
| [[Kafa language|Kafa]] || affo, aho || wammo; kendo || muddo || gašo || eč'iyo || nono; koko || dammo || šawušo || met'o || ač'o || mammo; č‘okko || šiggo
|-
| [[Mocha language|Mocha]] || á·p̱o || wa·mmo || šit'ó || gášo || häč'awo || no·no || damo || ša·wúšo || mit'ó || à·č'o || ma̱·(hä) || šəgo
|-
| Proto-Omotic<ref name="Bender, Lionel M 1987"/> ||  ||  || *si(n)t’ ||  ||  || *non- ||  ||  ||  || *haats’ ||  || 
|-
! colspan = "13" | [[Maji languages|Maji]]
|-
| Proto-[[Maji languages|Maji]]<ref>Aklilu, Yilma. 2003. Comparative phonology of the Maji languages. ''Journal of Ethiopian studies'' 36: 59–88.</ref> || *ʔaːb || *háːy ||  || *aːç’u ||  || *eːdu ||  || *uːs || *inču || *haːy || *um || 
|-
| [[Dizi language|Dizi]] || ab-u || aːi || sin-u || ažu || yabɪl || εd-u || yεrm-u || us || wɪč || aːi || m- || sɪm-u
|-
| [[Shako language|Shako]] || áːb || aːy || B sɪnt' || áːč'u || érb || eːd || yärm || uːsu || íːnču || áːy || m̥̀- || suːm
|-
| [[Nayi language|Nayi]] || ’aːf || B haːy || si.n || B acu || B yalb || eːdu || yarbm || ’uːs || B incus || B hai || m- || suːm
|-
! colspan = "13" | [[Mao languages|Mao]]
|-
| [[Bambassi language|Mao]] || áːfέ || wáːlέ || šíːnt'έ || àːts'ὲ || ánts'ílὲ || pɔ́ːnsὲ || hándέ || máːlt‘έ || ’íːntsὲ || hàːtsὲ || hà míjà || jèːškέ
|-
| [[Seze language|Seze]] || aːb, áːwi || wέὲ || šíːnté || háːts'έ, haːnsì || jántsílὲ/ t'agál || waːndè || hámbìlὲ || bàk‘ílí || ’innsì || háːns'ì || máːmɔ́ || nìːší
|-
| [[Hozo language|Hozo]] || abbi || wεεra || šini || ats'i || S wìntə́lә || waandi || hambilε || bak‘ilε || S ’íːnti || haani || maa || iiši
|-
! colspan = "13" | [[South Omotic languages|Aroid]]
|-
| [[Dime language|Dime]] || ’afe, ’aɸe || k'aːme || nʊkʊ || F baŋgɪl; ɪts; kәsɪl || ’ɨdәm || ’afe; B ’app- || maχse; F dzumt || k‘oss; F k‘ʊs || ’aχe; B haːɣo || naχe; B nәːɣ- || ’ɨčɨn || mɨze; F naːb
|-
| [[Hamer language|Hamer]] || api, afi || k'a(ː)m- || nuki || ’ats' || ’ad’ab || ap- || zum’i || leːfi || ak'- || noko || kʊm- || nam-
|-
| [[Banna language|Banna]] || afi || k'ami || nuki || atsi || adʌb/adɪm || afa || zump'i || lεfi || ɑhaka/haːk'a || noko || its-; kum- || na(a)bi
|-
| [[Karo language (Ethiopia)|Karo]] || afi || k'ami || nuki || asi || attәp' || M ’apo || mәk'әs || lefi || aka || nuk'o || isidi || 
|-
| [[Aari language|Ari]] || afi || k'ami || nuki || atsi; B kasel geegi || adim || afa || zom’i || lεfi || ahaka || noɣa; B nɔk'ɔ || its- || nami
|-
| [[Hamer language|Ubamer]] || a·fi || ɣ/k'a·mi || nuki || atsi || admi || afa || mək'əs ~ -ɣ- || lεfí || aɣa || luk'a, luɣa || ’its- || na·mi
|-
| [[Galila language|Galila]] || a·fi || k'a·mi || nuki || ači || admi || afa || mәk'әs || lεfí || aɣa/aháɣa || lu·ɣa/lo·ɣa || ič- || la·mi
|}

==See also==
*[[Languages of Ethiopia]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Sources cited ==
{{refbegin|indent=yes}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Bender |first=M. Lionel |author-link=Lionel Bender (linguist)
 |year=2000
 |title=Comparative Morphology of the Omotic Languages
 |location=Munich
 |publisher=LINCOM
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Blench |first=Roger
 |date=2006
 |title=Archaeology, Language, and the African Past
 |publisher=AltaMira Press
 |location=Oxford
 |isbn=9780759104662
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Fleming |first=Harold
 |year=1976
 |chapter=Omotic overview
 |title=The Non-Semitic Languages of Ethiopia
 |editor-first=M. Lionel |editor-last=Bender
 |pages=299–323
 |location=East Lansing, MI
 |publisher=Michigan State University
}}
* {{cite book
 |editor-last=Hayward |editor-first=Richard J. |editor-link=Richard Hayward (linguist)
 |year=1990
 |title=Omotic Language Studies
 |location=London
 |publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Hayward |first=Richard J. |author-link=Richard Hayward (linguist)
 |year=2003
 |chapter=Omotic: the 'empty quarter' of Afroasiatic linguistics
 |title=Research in Afroasiatic Grammar II: selected papers from the fifth conference on Afroasiatic languages, Paris 2000
 |editor=Jacqueline Lecarme
 |pages=241–261
 |location=Amsterdam
 |publisher=John Benjamins
 |doi=10.1075/cilt.241.13hay
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Newman |first=Paul
 |year=1980
 |title=The classification of Chadic within Afroasiatic
 |publisher=Universitaire Pers Leiden
}}
* {{cite journal
 |last=Lamberti |first=Marcello
 |year=1991
 |title=Cushitic and its Classifications
 |journal=Anthropos
 |volume=86
 |issue=4/6
 |pages=552–561
}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Lamberti |first=Marcello
 |title=Materialien zum Yemsa. Studi Linguarum Africae Orientalis, Band 5
 |publisher=Universitätsverlag Winter
 |location=Heidelberg
 |year=1993
 |isbn=3-8253-0103-6
}}
{{refend}}

== General Omotic bibliography ==
*[[Lionel Bender (linguist)|Bender, M. L.]] 1975. ''Omotic: a new Afroasiatic language family''. (University Museum Series, 3.) Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University.
*Zaborski, Andrzej. 1986. Can Omotic be reclassified as West Cushitic? In Gideon Goldenberg, ed., ''Ethiopian Studies: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference'' pp.&nbsp;525–530. Rotterdam: Balkema.

==External links==
*[http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/iln/LING2110/v07/THEIL%20Is%20Omotic%20Afroasiatic.pdf Is Omotic Afro-Asiatic?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224154313/https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/iln/LING2110/v07/THEIL%20Is%20Omotic%20Afroasiatic.pdf |date=2021-02-24 }} by Rolf Theil

{{Afro-Asiatic languages}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omotic Language}}
[[Category:Omotic languages| ]]
[[Category:Agglutinative languages]]
[[Category:Afroasiatic languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Proposed language families]]