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Language Information

Somali is the national language of Somalia, in eastemmost Africa. Jt is spoken by the great majority of the population (about 7 million people), as well as another 1½ million in Ethiopia, and about 300,000 in Kenya. Somali is one of the Cushitic languages, which form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic (Hamito-Semitic) family. In 1973 it was made the official language of Somalia.

Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia.

Family: Afro-Asiatic (Hamito-Semitic)
Subgroup: Cushitic

Writing Sample

Translation

Like a she-camel with a large bell
Come from the plateau and upper Haud,
My heat is great.

Birds perched together on the same tree
Call each their own cries,
Every country has its own ways,
Indeed people do not understand each others' talk.

One of my she-camels falls on the road
And I protect its meat,
At night I cannot sleep,
And in the daytime I can find no shade.

I have broken my nose on a stick,
I have broken my right hip,
I have something in my eye,
And yet I go on.

—Fortitude (anonymous)