International African Institute

Three Berta Dialects in Western Ethiopia

Author(s): E. Cerulli
Source: Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jul., 1947),
pp. 157-169
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International African Institute
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 AFRICA
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE

VOLUME XVII JULY 1947 NUMBER 3

THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

E. CERULLI

DURING my travels in Western Ethiopia in I928 I collected so

and ethnographical information on the peoples locally known (in
as Beni Shangul.1 They now inhabit the region south of the Blue N
the former Sudan province of Dar Fung. Their eastern limit in Ethi
is usually indicated as the River Dabus (or Yabus);2 but some scatte
Negro tribes, probably akin to the Beni Shangul, live east of the Da
confluence of the River Didessa with the Blue Nile.
The Beni Shangul, as I have stated elsewhere,3 speak Berta; they are, in fact, the
eastern branch of the Sudan peoples called by us Berta.4 I am publishing here the
material I gathered from my informants in three dialects, Wa-Kosho, Wa-cDashi, and
Rikabiyyah, spoken by different tribes in the Beni Shangul area. The following notes,
which give a rough outline of the phonetics and grammar of these dialects, are based
on my own material, and particularly on the comparison of this material with all
that has already been collected about Berta by other scholars and travellers. I must
point out that my notes are only a first provisional and tentative account of some
outstanding features of the Berta dialects, and that further researches on the spot are
really desirable.

Abbreviations used:
K. Denotes the dialect of Wa-Kosho (from my material).
Ds. Dialect of Wa-Dashi (Fadasi on maps) (from my material).
R. Dialect of Rikabiyyah (from my material).
D. Dialect of Dul (as edited by E. E. Evans-Pritchard, 'Ethnological Observations in
Dar Fung', Sudan Notes and Records, xv, 1932, pp. 48-50).
It is uncertain, in my opinion, whether the name is the traditional boundary between the Sudanese
Beni Shangul is derived (in Arabic) from 'Shanqilla', and the Ethiopians. Cf. C. Conti Rossini, Popoli
which is the Ethiopic word for 'Negro', or whether dell' Etiopia Occidentale, R.R.A.L. sc. mor., 1920,
the name 'Shanqilla' itself is not rather an Ethiopic p. 234.
loan-word derived from the Sudan Arabic 'Shanqul' 3 Etiopia Occidentale, vol. ii, Rome, I933, pp. II-
(the regular plural of 'Shanqil' in Arabic is, of 12.
course, 'Shanaqilah'). It is possible, as often happens 4 It should be noted that the Ethiopian Berta call
in many languages, that the proper name of a single themselves Xojalee (or Hoyalee). They are called
people has been generalized and used to denote a by the neighbouring Galla tribes Joogalee, and by
whole category of mankind or a social class. the Abyssinians (in Amharic) Arab (i.e. Arabs), as
2 The River Dabus, according to Conti Rossini, they normally use Arabic as their second language.

'Africa', the Journal of the International African Institute, is published by the Institute,
but except where otherwise stated the writers of the articles are alone responsible for the opinions
expressed.
M

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0 20
4

km

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA 159
M. Berta material collected and edited by Ern. Marno (Reise im Gebiete des Blauen
Weissen Nil, Vienna, 1844, pp. 48I-95).
H. Berta material collected by J. Halevy ('Vocabulaires de diverses langues africa
Revue de philologie et d'ethnographie, i, 1874, pp. 56-7).
CR. (Berta) dialect of Gamila collected by A. d'Abbadie and edited by C. Conti Ro
(Popoli dell' Etiopia Occidentale, pp. 3 9-25).
Tu. Berta material collected by Tutschek ('A Vocabulary of the Fazoglo Languag
Proceedings of the Philological Society for 1848-9 and 1849-0o, vol. iv, London
1850, pp. 139-53, republished by M. Heepe, Mitteilungen des Seminars fur Or
talische Sprachen, xxxii, 3, 1929, pp. I-40).
M1. (Berta) dialect of Malkan (E. E. Evans-Pritchard, op. cit., ibid.).
T. (Berta) dialect of Tornasi (ibid.).
C. Berta material collected by Caillaud (Voyage a Meroe, Paris, I826, vol. ii, pp. 4
I am informed that some notes on Berta grammar have been compiled by A. W. M. Dis
District Commissioner, Fung District, but have not been published.

Note. Berta words in italics are taken from the various authors quoted and, u
the words from my own material, are not in the 'Africa' orthography.

PHONETICS

The Berta dialects, according to my material, have the following consonants:

Labio- Post-
Bilabial dental Dental Alveolar Retroflex alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
p t k
t' ts' c' k'x
b d 42 j g
f 03 s I x h
8 2 y4
m n ny y r
l,r
w y

The n
The v
In my
R. has
inK.
The following sound-correspondences are to be noted in my material:
i. Labio-dental 0 is found in all three Ethiopian dialects of Berta. But
t corresponds to 0 in: K. Oabaa: Ds. taba, hand. M., H., and CR. do not sh
consonant 0; it is impossible, however, to say now whether in these dialect
Note on the ejective consonants: ts' is like the Sidama, Galla, and Ethiopic
c' is like the Sidama, Galla, and Ethiopic (Semitic) R s.
(Semitic) 1E a ; 2 e is a retroflex plosive without glottal closure,
k' is like the Sidama, Galla, and Ethiopic as in Somali.
(Semitic) I q; 3 0 is the English th as in 'thousand'; a is the
t' is like the Sidama, Galla, and Ethiopic English th, as in 'they'.
(Semitic) mfl t; 4 y is a velar fricative, articulated further back
than the Arabic c

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60o THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

correspond to 0 as a rule, or whether the spelling t for 0 may onl

of transcription. We may, however, quote some examples:
K., R. Oabaa: M. taba, hand.
K. moo6e: CR. mutupu, three.
K. Oaarj, cow: H. tang, 'bceuf'.
In C. r corresponds to 0, as in:
K. Oabaa: C. raba, hand.
K. mooOe: C. more, three.
K. Oaar: C. ran, cow.
For this correspondence of 0 with the liquid r, compare th
shown in CR.'s material, e.g.:
K., R. Oabaa: CR. Idbbd, hand.
K. Oaar): CR. ldni, cow.
2. The velar fricative x is only found in the R. dialect. K. a
hand, have substituted h for x in the Arabic loan-word: Arabi
dagger.
3. Initial k' in K. corresponds to g in Ds. and is not pronounced in R.: K. k'uriya:
Ds. guriya; R. (and D.) uriya, snake. k between vowels in K. is represented by y in
the Ds. dialect: K. manak'u: Ds. manayu, one; K. mak'uJu: Ds. mayujo, five.
4. k between vowels in some dialects corresponds to g or to the fricatives x, h
in others, e.g.: C. mokole: CR. mogole; K. mohoolan; Ds. mohala, two; K. mabi
xolon, two men (lit. men two).
5. In some cases alveolar fricatives are represented by ts' in the Ds. dialect:
H. sele; K. zeelee: Ds. ts'eelee, durra.
D. saqa; M. saga; C. saka, zaka: Ds. ts'aak'aa, earth.
D. muse; M. misa; H. mesa: Ds. mits'ee; C. mitsa, fowl.
6. Correspondences involving palatalization frequently occur between dialects:
k'>c': K. mak'era: Ds. mac'araa, six.
ts'>c': Ds. mits'ee; C. mitsa: K. mic'ee, fowl.
Ds. ts'aak'aa: K. c'aak'aa, earth.
s>J: K. sirjgor: M. schimgir (German spelling for Jimgir), donkey.
H. suli: K., Ds., R. fuli, house.
H. masu: Ds. maafoo; D. mdshu, finger-nail.
z>j: K. zeelee: CR. glej, durra.
rq>ny: Ds. narJ: R. niny, woman.
l>y: CR. ile; S., Ml. eli: K., Ds. iyoo; D. iyu; C. io, ear.
r>y: K. feree; Ds. feeree: C. fie, water.
7. Some correspondences between the Berta dialects may be explained by apparent
developments from original labio-velar compounds: kw, k'w, &c.
T. koko: Ds. o'oo; H. od; S. o'o; D. u'un; C. ohon, meat.
C. koulou: K., Ds. olo; CR. ollo; S., MI., T. ola; D., R. alu, head.
M. kua; C. koi: K., Ds. hoo, foot.
D., S., Ml. kila: K. halee; H., M. hala, tongue.
and perhaps M. gongso: Ds. wonjo, honey.

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA I6i

8. Alternation of I and r between dialects is not uncommon:

l>r: Ds. byelo: S., Ml. bore, shoulder.

l>n: CR. mdalmu: K., Ds. mannamu; C. manamo, four.
and also:

1>4: K. orgolee: Ds. irgo4ee, tree.

n>d: K. manak'u; Ds. manayu: CR. midiku; C. moudoukou, one (d and n are
probably found here instead of an original 1).
9. Correspondences involving consonant assimilation may be noted in:
n+d>n+r: (with further metathesis: r+n); K., D. gundi (C. coudy): Ml. gorun;
T. ungora, back.
k+r>g+r: S. kurY; M1. kuru: K. gure; D. gure, penis.
k+l>g+l: Ds. kilee: CR. gdle; M. geli; C. guelai (= gele), dog.
s+l>z+l: H. sele: K. zeelee, durra (Ds. ts'eelee).
s+g>z+g: R. sigi (H. sike): Ds. zigi; D. zxgi, moon.
m+s>m+z: Ds. moosoo: K. monzoo; D. munzu; C. mondzo, mondso (M.
morso), sun.
Notice also consonant assimilation within K. dialect in: l+r>r+r: zeel, durra,
but zeer-Arabu, Indian corn.
Correspondences involving possible dissimilation may be found:
s+k'>z+g: D. saqa; M. saga; C. saka>C. zaka (Ds. ts'aak'aa; K. c'aak'aa),
earth.
(s)s>ns>rs: Ds. moosoo:1 K. monzoo; M. morso, sun.
o1. Correspondences involving assimilation between vowels are found as follows:
a+u>a+o>o+o (o+a): R., D. alu: H. alo: K., Ds. olo; CR. ollo: S., MI.,
T. ola, head.
u+o>o+o: M. bubo: K., Ds., R. bobo, father.
a+e>i+e, e+i: CR. gdle: Ds. kilee: M. geli; R. gali; C. guelai (= gele), dog.
i+a>i+e, e+e: K., Ds. mi'aa: H. mee': D. mi'e, goat.
a+e+e>i+i+e, i+i+i: C. madegai (= madege): K. midige: Ds. midigi,
elephant.
a+u>o+u, u+u: Ds. nagura: R. noogura: D. nSgura, leopard.
1. Front vowels in some dialects are represented by back vowels in others. This
is probably due to the influence of neighbouring labial consonants:
K., R. Oabaa: D. tuba, hand.
Ds. beeroo: R. boorit, lion; D. burt, leopard.
S., MI., T. ma: Ds. moo; K. mo'oo; M. mu, fire.
K. mic'ee; Ds. mits'ee: D. mtse, fowl.

MORPHOLOGY

In the genitive construction the possessor normally precedes the possessed without
any linking particle: ol-buf (lit. head-hair), the hair of the head; 6ab-aloo (hand-head),
finger; Oabu-buJ (hand-hair), finger-nail, in the different dialects. But in the case of
I According to the law general in Cushitic lan- doubled consonant', moosoo may be assumed to
guages: 'long vowel+consonant = short vowel+ correspond to an archaic 'mosso'.

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I62 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

ts'eel-Bagaro, zeel-Arabu (lit. durra-Arabs), Indian corn, the order of

possessed+possessor.
The self-standing personal pronouns are:
Sing. ist. ali (R., Ds.), I.
2nd. jgo (R., Ds.); rk'o (K.), you.
3rd. irine, he.
Plur. i st. ha6aan (R.); hado (Ds.), we.
znd. haOu (R.); dora (Ds.), you.
3rd. meeree (R.), they.
The possessive pronouns take the form of suffixes attached to nouns
Sing. st. -iqk'o (K., Ds., R.).
2nd. -imbe (Ds.); -aa, -'aa (K., R.).
3rd. -ijkyade (Ds.); -k'yade (R.).
Plur. Ist. -iqk'a (Ds., R.).
2nd. -immaji (Ds.); irgama (R.).
3rd. -meeree (R.).
Comparison between the different dialectal forms -iqkyade and -k'ya
that, with the exception of the 3rd person plural, the suffixes contain
(probably demonstrative) followed by the pronoun. The suffixes are
follows:

Juli, house; Julirk'o, my house; fulimbe (Ds.), your house; fuliyaa (K.), your
house; Juli'aa (R.), your house; Julirkyade (Ds.), his house; Julk'yade (R.),
his house.
fulirk'a (Ds., R.), our house; fulimmafi (Ds.), your house; Julirjgama (R.),
your house; fulmeeree (R.), their house.
The demonstrative forms, which may function either as pronouns or as adjectives,
are: udule, this (Ds.); idalale, this (R.); idele, that (masc.) (R.); ele, this (fem.) (R.).
The demonstrative follows the noun to which it refers:
ndabu udule (Ds.), this man; maba idalale (R.), this man; maba idele (R.), that
man; niny ele (R.), this woman.
The interrogatives are:
I. rjwo (K.); go (Ds., R.), where?
e.g. adi r3wo? (K.); adi ro? (Ds., R.); where are you going?
ado qwo ? (K); where have you gone ?
2. dala (R.), who? e.g. dala qgo?, who are you?
3. ambala (Ds.), who? e.g. ambala qk'o?, who are you?
The cardinal numerals are:
I. manak'u (K.), manayu (Ds.).
2. mohoolan (K.), mohala (Ds.).
3. moo0e (K.), muu6i (Ds.).
4. mannamu (K., Ds.).
5. mak'uJu (K.), mayufo (Ds.).
6. mak'era (K.), mac'araa (Ds.).

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA 163

7. Oabohoolan (K.), Oappolan (Ds.).

8. 0aboore (K.), Oaboode (Ds.).
9. Oabannamu (K.), Oabanamu (Ds.).
io. mattumaa (K., Ds.).
The numerals 7, 8, and 9 are formed by the substantive Oabaa, h
by the numerals 2, 3, 4; 'seven' being thus literally 'one hand+-2
to the quinary system so widely diffused in this part of Africa.
The numerals i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and io have the prefix ma-, for wh
found any satisfactory explanation. The existence of this prefix
comparison of mohoolan, two, with Oabo-hoolan, seven ('one
three, with Oab-oode, eight ('one hand+ 3'), and mannamu, four, w
nine ('one hand+4'). Moreover, I gathered from my Rikabiyya
mabi hoolon = two men (lit. 'men two') which may suggest that
only used in numeration. The numeral Io, ma-ttumaa, is certainly
the Cushitic languages (tom, tam, &c.).
The indicative mood of the verb has two tenses, which are dist
material, by different suffixes: -o, -qy for the perfect, -a, -i for the im
either present or future time. Person and number in the conjug
only, when necessary, by means of pronouns, at least in the perf
fly (R.), to kill.
Perfect Sing. ist. a-fiyoy, I killed. Plur. ist. haoaan fiyoy
2nd. rjgu fiyoy.
3rd. rqina fiyoy.
Imperfect Sing. ist. a-fiya, I kill. Plur. Ist. ha6aan an-fiy
2nd. r3gu fiya. 2nd. haOuu a-fiya0a.
3rd. qrina na-fiya. 3rd. meeree a-meeree-fiya.
The 2nd and 3rd persons plural of the preceding examples have a prefix a-; and
in the case of the 3rd person plural, the pronoun is inserted again between this a-
and the verb. It is possible that this prefix a- is the same as the suffix -a, which is, as
I have said, the characteristic of the imperfect.
The 3rd person singular has a prefix na-, and the first person plural a prefix an-.
In both cases I suspect that na- and an- may represent the aforesaid prefix a-, phone-
tically influenced by the pronouns qina and ha6aan.
The 2nd person plural also has a suffix -aOa, which is probably connected with
the personal pronoun haOuu, you (cf. below).
The imperative is formed with the suffixes: sing. -a; plur. -aOa.
e.g. fiya (R.), kill! Plur. fiya0a (R.), kill!; ada (K.), go!; iya (Ds.), sleep!
The negative is formed from the affirmative by the addition of the prefix, wol-I
in the indicative and bak'a- in the imperative. In the indicative the personal pronouns
are inserted between the prefix wol- and the verb; e.g.:
Perfect Sing. ist. wol-al-a-fiyoy, I did not kill;
2nd. wol-a-rjgo-fiyoy;
3rd. wol-a-rqin-fiyoy;
Plur. ist. wol-a-ha8aan-fiyoy.
I In R. dialect pronounced wol.

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164 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Imperfect Sing. ist. wol-ali-fiyi, I do not kill;

2nd. wol-a-rjgu-fiyi.
Imperative bak'a-fiyi rgo!, do not kill!
I must point out again that these are only provisional notes and there are cer-
tainly other aspects of the Berta verb which may come to light as a result of further
researches on the field. One aspect is to be noted, for example: that the root ad-
seems to indicate both 'to go' and 'to come' according to the character of the final
vowel. Examples from the different dialects are:
K. ada, go!; ada fuliya, go home! (Imp.).
ado, come!; ado fuliqk'o, come to my house! (Imp.).
adi rjwo, where are you going? (Ind.).
ado qiwo, where are you coming from? (Ind.).
Ds. adi ro, where are you going? (Ind.).
ada ro, where are you coming from? (Ind.).
R. adi rjo, where are you going? (Ind.).
ada fuliqk'oe, I am going to my hut (Ind.).
Halevy also gives: ada, 'va!' and ado, 'viens!'
In conclusion, we must consider here the problem of the linguistic position of the
Berta dialects. It is too early, in my opinion, to come to any definite conclusion
from the material I have just analysed. I would rather discuss this question when
all the material which I have collected on the languages spoken along the Sudan-
Ethiopian border is published. In the meantime, however, I would draw the atten-
tion of the reader to the following facts:
I. There seems to be no special connexion between Berta and the Nilotic languages.
2. There are, on the other hand, some coincidences of vocabulary, though very
few, between Berta and Gunza.
3. The Sidama languages, on the Ethiopian side, have given to the Berta vocabu-
lary some words corresponding to single elements of material culture adopted by the
Berta from the Sidama.
4. On the phonetic side, the Berta language exhibits the ejective consonants
usually associated with the Cushitic languages, t', c', &c., and the nasal compounds
usually found in the Sudanic languages, mb, nd, &c.
5. Morphologically, however, the language behaves more like a Sudanic language
than a Nilotic or a Cushitic, and therefore I think I may confirm, quite provisionally,
what I have already said' about the classification of Berta as a Sudanic language.

A LIST OF WORDS OF THE BERTA DIALECTS IN ETHIOPIA

The following lexical material was collected by me from the natives in 1928.
I have indicated the dialect in each case, and have added comparisons with the
dialects of Berta in the Sudan and with other languages. Owing to the great variation
of vowels between dialects it has been found necessary to adopt the Semitic arrange-
ment of vocabulary and to group words according to their consonants.
o'oo (Ds.), meat (D. u'un; C. ohon; H. o0; Tu. oong; S. o'o; T. koko).
abohots' (K.), lion.
Etiopia Occidentale, vol. ii.

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA 165
ad (K.), to go, to come (cf. p. 164) (Tu. ada; CR. ad, to bring?).
ado (Ds.), we.
idalale, idele (R.); udule (Ds.), this (masc.).
addigin (R.); addiyin (Ds.), beard (Egyptian Arabic ad-dign).
a6 (Ds.), to get up.
agudi (K., Ds.), brother (CR. agudi; H. akhuti, 'fils'; Tu. agudi).
ali (Ds., R.), I, myself (Tu. ali).
ele (R.), this (fem.).
ilee (K., Ds.), ear (D., M., H. ile; C. ilai (= ile in French spelling); Tu. ille).
oloo (K., Ds.); alu (R.), head (D. alu; C. koulou, alou; CR. ollo; H. alo; Tu. allo; S.,
Ml., T. ola).
albayal (Ds.), mule (Arabic al-bayl).
al-gyeme (Ds.), barley.
aliliha (R.), hyena (see liliya).
amu (K., Ds.), nose (D. amu; H. amo; Tu. amung, amun).
emboo (Ds.), sister (CR. mbune; Tu. mbo, ambo).
ambala (Ds.), who?
amod (K., R.), to know.
amazi (Ds.), rat.
indee (Ds.), where?
irjgo4ee (Ds.); orgolee (K.), tree (M. angole; C. engoule (= aigule in French spelling);
H. enkoule (= arjgule); Tu. ngole).
irj (K.), anus.
aree (K., Ds., R.), eye (D., M. are; CR. are; H. ari; Tu. are; S. eri, plur. ereti; Ml. erti;
T. inyerti).
eer (Ds.), milk (D. err; M. irr; C. hier; CR. eri; Tu. err; S., Mi., T. iri).
eerI (K., Ds.), breast (D. ir; M. zrr; C. herre; H. er; T. uniribuna?).
oor (K., R.), cloth (D., CR., H. or; M. orr). Cf. Somali Hawiyya: oor = cloth?
uriya (R.), snake (see k'uriya, guriya).
its'oo (Ds.), star (Tu. iso, idzo).
iy (Ds.), to sleep.
iyoo (K., Ds.), abdomen (D. iyu; C. io; CR. ile; Tu. io; S. eli; MI. eli; T. nyeli. It is
the same word as the Gunza: ilwaa).

booboo (K., Ds.), father (M. bubo; CR. bobo; Tu. bobo = uncle, babo = father).
bu4u (Ds.), bull (D. bdo6; CR. budu; Tu. b'od'o).
bagaro (Ds.), Arabs (from the name of the Baggara in the Sudan. See H. MacMichael,
A History of the Arabs in the Sudan, Cambridge, 1922, vol. i, pp. 27I-306.
D'Abbadie, in his Berta material, translates Bagari as 'Galla', which is very
interesting as suggesting that the name of the Baggara may be used in Berta
also for 'foreigner' in general).
bohots' (R.), zebra.
book (R.), jackal.
beelee (K.), stone (D. bele; M. belle; C. bela; H. bele; Tu. bele ; S. pela; Ml. fela; T. bela)
(see peelee).
Pronounced with close e as opposed to open e in eer, milk. This is the only example of its kind recorded.

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i66 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

bul (Ds.), to show.

bembee (Ds.), bread.
beer (Ds.), spear (CR. beri; H. ber; M. birr; C. p?; D. ber; Tu. be
woro; T. werda).
beru (Ds.), right hand.
boorit (R.), lion (D. burit).
beroo (Ds.), leopard (see boorit. A similar exchange of the names 'l
is found in Sidama. See E. Cerulli, Studi Etiopici, vol. iii, Rome,
biji (Ds.), chest (D. bishi; Tu. bishi).
buj (K., Ds.), hair (D. bush; M. busch (German spelling for buf); C.
spelling for puJ); Tu. bS, bush, buss); ol-buf (K.), hair of the h
buwaa (R.), arm (H. bue; Tu. boe'boe).
byeeloo (Ds.), shoulder (S., Ml. bore; T. ambora).
c'aak'aa (K.), earth, land (D. saqa; M. saga; C. saka, zaka; Tu. dzag
daadi (K., Ds.), mother (CR. dadi; H. dada; Tu. dadi, d'adi).
dala (R.), who?
dojqo (Ds.), to sit down (Tu. dongosha).
daroo (K., R.), buffalo (Tu. d'erio, tarrio).
dora (Ds.), you (2nd person plur.).
loorj (R.), iron (D. dun; Tu. d'ong; M. dogn).
babaloo (Ds.), finger (see Oabaa).
fuudaa (R.), gold (cf. Arabic fiddah, silver?) (Tu. hoda, hota, chota).
feree (K.), feeree (Ds.), water (D.feri; M. fir; C. fie; CR.fere; H.feri
fy (R.), to kill (Tu. fia).
gad, gadi (R.), son (see guOi).
gid (R.), to have.
gagal (Ds.), road (Tu. gagal).
gali (R.), dog (see kilee).
gulk'ee (Ds., R.), lion.
gundi (K.), back (D. gundi; C. coudy (= kudi); Tu. gundi; Ml. gorum;
gaanJee (K.), poa abessinica (a loan-word from Western Sidama:
gaafoo; Shinasha, gaafaa).
gure (K.), penis (D. gure; S. kunr; Tu. gurre; Ml. kuru; T. anggurabu
guriya (Ds.), snake (see k'uriya, uriya).
guOi (K.), son (D. g4di; M. gedde; H. akhuti; Tu. gadi, g6di. See gad)
hoo (K., Ds.), foot (CR. home; C. koi; M. kua; Tu. ho, cho (= xo in G
huud (K.), barley.
ha6aan (R.), we (see ado).
halee (K.), tongue (D. k*la; M. hala; CR. elle; H. hala; Tu. halla; S
T. unkhla).
hanjir (R., Ds.), knife (D. haingir; Tu. handgir, handjir; M. hangir) (Arabic xanjar).
haaruu (Ds.), shield (Tu. haru).
hofa4aa (Ds.), to-day (H. wusihei).
haOu (R.), you (znd person plur.).

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA I67
kilee (Ds.), dog (CR. gdle; M. geli; C. guelai (= gele); Tu. gale, kale. See gal
kambi (Ds.), left hand.
kiye (Ds.), yesterday.
k'aafaa (R.), blood.
k'ojgyolo (R.), elbow (D. kongkolong).
k'uriya (K.), snake (D. uria; C. oria; Tu. gure, goria, chorta (= yoria,
uriya, guriya).
k'ooJ (Ds.), butter (Tu. errgosh).

liliya (Ds.), hyena (Tu. liljachen, lilachen = 'Lowe' (see aliliha)).

mi'aa (K., Ds.), goat (D. mie; M. mia; CR. miya; H. mee'; Tu. mia. The same word
occurs in Gunza: meeyaa, sheep, and is certainly connected with Eastern Sidama:
Kambatta mieiccoaa; Sidamo me'oo, goat).
mo'oo (K.); mo (Ds.), fire (D., C., H. mo; M. mu; Tu. mo; S., MI., T. ma).
maba (R.), man.
mbee (K.), neck (cf. Gunza biwaa?).
mbolo (Ds.), mother! (vocative).
mbu (K.), beard (C. bouss (= buus). This word is connected with Gunza: beesuwa).
mic'ee (K.); mits'ee (Ds.), fowl (D. mtse; M. misa; C. mitsa; H. mesa; Tu. mite =
fowl, mizo = bird; S. migi; Ml. megi; T. medje).
mac'araa (Ds.), six (see mak'iera).
midige (K.); midigi (Ds.), elephant (C. madegai (= madege in French spelling);
CR. has medega, buffalo).
muu6i (Ds.), three (see mooee).
mufee (Ds.), to-morrow (Tu. mufe).
mohoolan (K.), mohala (Ds.), two (C. mokole; D. koleni; M. golongoni; CR. mogole).
moo0e (K.), three (C. more; CR. mutupu; S. ede; Ml. odo; T. ede).
nagura (Ds.), leopard; noogura (R.), lion (D. nmgura; CR. nagura, lion).
ninye, niny (R.), woman (see nar).
nag (Ds.), woman (D. ning; C. naguinchelou (?); Tu. nanga).
narots' (Ds.); naruuts' (R.), leopard.
nduu (K., Ds.), mouth, language (H. entu; Tu. andu, antu. Cf. CR. ndu, tooth?).
ndabu (Ds.), man (cf. maba (R.)?) (Tu. ndabale, indewule, ndimili).
ndufudi (R.), tooth (C. dovodit; M. duffudi).
ndiloo (K.); ndulo (Ds.), tooth (Tu. ndilli, 'Nadel', indullo, 'Lippe').
rgo (Ds.), where? (see jwo).
tjgo (R.), gk'o (Ds.), you (2nd person sing.) (Tu. ngo).
rjani (K.), vagina.
rjie (R.), he (3rd person sing.).
rjwo (K.), where? (see go).
peelee (Ds.), stone (see beelee).

roo (Ds., R.), rain (D. r6; M. ri; H. ro; Tu. ri; Ml. gro. It is perhaps connected with
Northern Sidama: Janjero iroo; Ometo Sidama: Wolamo iraa; Zala, Gofa,
Badditu, Chara, Zaysse iraa).

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I68 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

sigi (R.), moon (see zigi).

sirjgor (K.), donkey (CR. silor; H. siingir; M. schimgir (= Germa
Tu. shilerr (see fJigir).

fuli (K., Ds., R.), hut, house (D. shuli; M. schuli (= Juli); C. ch
Tu. shulli).
fiqgir (Ds.), donkey (see sirgor).

tabaa (Ds.), hand (see Oabaa).

toro (Ds.), neck (H. tongo; Tu. tdngd).

ts'aak'aa (Ds.), earth, land (see c'aak'aa).

ts'eelee (Ds.), durra; ts'eel-bagaro, 'Arabic durra' = Indian corn (see zeelee).
Oabaa (K., R.), hand (D. tziba; M. taba; C. raba; CR. Idbbd; H. deba; Tu. hdbba).
Oabodee (Ds.), eight (see Oaboree).
Oab-oloo (K.), Oab-alu (R.), head of the hand finger (Tu. habbalo. See Oabaa, oloo.)
Oabu-buJ (K.), hair of the hand = finger-nail (see buf).
Oabohoolam (K.), seven (C. rapmore. See Oappola).
Oabanamu (K., Ds.), nine.
Oaboree (K.), eight.
Oaarj (K., Ds.), cow (D. tngg; CR. ldni; H. tang, 'bceuf' (?); Tu. hang; C. ranagalai.
The same word occurs in Gunza: taarjaa).
OirJ (Ds.), to eat.
Oappola (Ds.), seven (see Oabohoolam).

wonfoo (Ds.), honey (H. gongso).

zigi (Ds.), moon (D. z%gi; H. sike; Tu. zigi).
zeelee (K.), durra (CR. gee; H. sele; Tu. zelle, zilli, 'Getreide-art'. See ts'eelee).
zeerarabu (K.), 'Arabic durra', i.e. Indian corn (see ts'eel-bagaro).

ENGLISH INDEX OF BERTA WORDS

abdomen, iyoo. chest, bifi.

anus, ij. cloth, oor.
Arabs, bagaro. come, ad.
arm, buwaa. corn, Indian, zeerarabu, ts'eelbagaro.
back, gundi. cow, Oaaj.
barley, huud, algyeme. dog, kilee, gali.
beard, mbu, addiyin. donkey, firjgir, sitrgor.
blood, k'aafaa. durra, ts'eelee, zeelee.
bread, bembee. ear, ilee.
breast, eer.I earth, c'aak'aa, ts'aak'aa.
brother, agudi. eat, Oir].
buffalo, daroo. eight, Oaboree, Oabodee.
bull, buc[u. elbow, k'orjk'olo.
butter, k'oof. elephant, midige, midigi.
cat, mariyoo. eleusine, tokosso, munt'.
Pronounced with close e (see note on p. I65).

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 THREE BERTA DIALECTS IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA I69
eye, aree. nose, amu.
father, booboo. one, manak'u, manayu.
finger, Babaloo, Oaboloo, Oabalu.
penis, gure.
finger-nail, OabubuJ, maaJoo. poa abessinica, gaanJee.
fire, mo'oo, moo. rain, roo.
five, mak'ufu, mayufo. rat, amazi.
foot, hoo. right hand, beru.
four, mannamu. road, gagal.
fowl, mic'ee, mits'ee. seven, Oappola, Oabohoolam.
get up, a6. sheep, mereeree.
go, ad. shield, haaru.
goat, mi'aa. shoulder, byeeloo.
gold, fuudaa. show, bul.
hair, buf, ol-buJ. sister, emboo.
hand, Oabaa, tabaa. sit down, dotqof.
have, gid. six, mac'araa, mak'iera.
he, rirje. sleep, iy.
head, oloo, alu. snake, k'uriya, guriya, uriya.
honey, wonfoo. son, guOi, gad, gadi.
horse, murree, murOaa. spear, beer.
house, hut, Juli. star, its'oo.
hyena, aliliha, liliya. stone, beelee, peelee.
I, ali. sun, monzoo, moosoo, munsu.
iron, 00ooj. ten, mattumaa.
jackal, book. they, meeree.
kill, fly. this, idalale, idele, ele, udule.
knife, hanjir. three, muu6i, mooOe.
know, amod. to-day, hofacaa.
land, c'aak'aa, ts'aak'aa. to-morrow, mufee.
left hand, kambi. tongue, halee.
leopard, beroo, narots', naruuts', nagura. tooth, ndilo, ndufudi, ndulo.
lion, noogura, abohots', boorit, gulk'ee. tree, orgolee, irgocee.
man, maba, ndabu. two, mohoolan, mohala.
meat, o'oo. vagina, qam.
milk, eer. water, feree, feeree.
moon, zigi, sigi. we, ha6aan, ado.
mother, daadi. where, r3o, rwo, indee.
mother! (voc.), mbolo. who, ambala, dala.
mouth, ndu. woman, nari, niny, qiinye.
mule, albayal, muleelee. yesterday, kiye.
nail, see finger-nail. you (sing.), rjgo, rk'o.
neck, to-ro, mbee. you (plur.), haOuu, dora.
nine, Oabanamu. zebra, bohots'.1
I am much indebted to Miss M. A. Bryan for revising my manuscript and to Dr. A. N.
his helpful suggestions.

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