Geda Qawla, 75, who is one of only five people in the world who can speak the Ongota language, has expressed his fears that his knowledge of the language is fading as he grows older. The Ongota language, spoken by a small group of Ethiopian villagers, is on the brink of extinction, with fewer individuals using it than ever before.
Living on the left bank of the Woito River for generations, the native Ongota speakers have sustained themselves through hunting, fishing, and beekeeping. However, with increased interaction with the outside world, the rare language is slowly disappearing. Geda worries that with the ageing population of the remaining speakers, the language will vanish along with them.
Experts estimate that a language becomes extinct approximately every two weeks, putting nearly half of the 7,000 languages spoken today at risk of disappearing by the end of the century. Languages without a written form and those spoken by fewer than 10,000 individuals are particularly vulnerable. Linguists like Ross Perlin warn that even languages with hundreds of thousands of speakers could face endangerment, with globalisation and technological advancements often cited as contributing factors to the decline of lesser-known languages.
Geda’s concerns are not unfounded, as many young people from the Ongota community are opting to move to towns for better opportunities. These migrations, coupled with intermarriages with speakers of dominant languages, are leading to the dilution of native tongues like Ongota. While some languages have successfully rebounded from the brink of extinction in the past, the Ongota language’s future remains uncertain.
Efforts are being made by academics at Arba Minch University to compile a dictionary for Ongota in hopes of preserving the language. A recent study found that there are still around 417 individuals within the Ongota ethnic community who identify with the language, with younger members showing interest in safeguarding their linguistic heritage.
In a poignant reflection on the importance of preserving languages, a 25-year-old civil servant, Worro Molle, highlighted the unique worldview and richness that each language offers. As the world continues to witness the loss of diverse languages, the plight of Ongota serves as a reminder of the invaluable cultural and linguistic diversity that is at risk of disappearing.