SomaliNet Forums

We always hear that Somalis share one language, one culture but in reality nothing could be further from the truth.

There are more than 10 native languages (many are endangered) and many more dialects:
1. Somali (many dialects spoken by nearly everyone)
2. Maay (Mirifile, JWeyne and more tribes)
3. Boon
4. Dabarre
5. Barawani
6. Garre
7. Jiiddu
8. Aweer
9. Mushungulu
10. Ajuran-Borana
11. Arabic (spoken by the educated)
12. Bajuni
13. Tunni

You forgot to add French. Djiboutians are so advanced and ahead of all Somalis.

This thread should instead be named "Languages spoken in Somalia" since "Somali Languages" suggests that these are all Cushitic languages.
I've only heard of half of those languages. Looks like I have some reading to do.

Af Marka, ma kasaasi adi. How come it's not in the list

So who speaks Aweer

I forgot to add Af Ashraaf and Af Marka.

Most of these languages are endangered like Af Garre as they adopt Maay, and I'm guessing Aweer and Boon are extinct.

We need to start taking records and preserve these languages or they'll be lost forever.

The reason why Arabic is in the list and not French, English, Amhara, Swahili or Italian because we were never colonised by Arabs unlike those mentioned, but we adopted Arabic as our second language so we can understand our lords words better.

I forgot to add Af Ashraaf and Af Marka.

Most of these languages are endangered like Af Garre as they adopt Maay, and I'm guessing Aweer and Boon are extinct.

We need to start taking records and preserve these languages or they'll be lost forever.

The reason why Arabic is in the list and not French, English, Amhara, Swahili or Italian because we were never colonised by Arabs unlike those mentioned, but we adopted Arabic as our second language so we can understand our lords words better.