Читать книгу Afaan Oromo As Second Language - Ibsaa Guutama - Страница 4

It may be said, why should one learn a language that cannot help in competition for global market? The Oromoo are one of the ancient peoples of Africa. Their language is rooted in what is refered to as Kuusaa or Cushtic language group. The people that spoke the Kuusaa language from the lower Nile were at the head of what ancient Greek historians refer to as Ethiopian Civilization. This is different from present day state of that name. There were times when they provided pharaohs to ancient Egypt. Many languages/dialects from among those of the ancients had either vanished or weakened. If a language vanishes while the people are still around it means they are replaced by those of the powerful and the wealthy.

With lose of language nationhood and national identity will be lost. There also are feelings that cannot be expressed except in that language. Thus one will live maim and in a never ending identity crisis and a status of second class human being. If many human beings are taught the language and if it is registered and saved in so many places as possible it may one day help to find the lost heritage and solve the crisis. Thus there is historical justification and a projected hope for learning Afaan Oromo. It belonged to a civilization which all black people claim. For those who investigate that civilization Afaan Oromo cannot be overlooked. Some missing links to the ancient civilization may be found in it.

Oromo language had been an oral language for unknown period of times. It is so vast that there is no part of knowledge that an equivalent cannot be found for in it. It is not known as to when they stopped writing and reverted to registering to memory. According to oral tradition they were the cattle to blame for that. They ate up all the written works. Since then they read their suet (moora) and depended more on their own memory to pass information to generations. Though unfortunate for not being masters of their own resources, still their rich culture, history and language have lots to offer the world.

Modern technological development is making information to be processed overwhelmingly that sheer memory is unable to handle it. That is threatening to wipe out the oral tradition of this historic nation. It is only after great sacrifice that right for children to learn in their first language was recognized. Now most Oromo children have to some extent the chance to learn in their national language. Letters or “qubee” that fit the language are adopted. Official duties in Oromiyaa are now more or less run by the people’s language. That also makes it relevant to start learning the language.

Others who have to learn Afaan Oromo are those Oromo who because of historical reasons lost their language. They have to go back to their roots and regain their pride to overcome identity crisis. Such ones are daily expanding. Families of those born or brought up under alien administration, mumble to them in alien language thinking it would make them appear smarter. The only chance children have is to learn their language at home. Out of home and at school alien language has the upper hand. There are those who detract children from learning their mother tongue from lack of responsibility. Most of them try to sharpen their own dull tongue at the expense of their children.

Others are those who speak the language but for one reason or other can not read or write it. Others are those who have the knowledge but see negligently when their language goes down to a second place or no place in their own home. This work may help efforts made to reversing this situation. To overcome such situation individual endeavor alone will not be enough. It needs concerted action. For this reason cooperation of nationals and organized community is essential.

It could serve those who for evil or good intend to work among the Oromo. To intermingle and communicate with the people they need it, what ever their mission might be. In addition students of language and other fields who do research in Oromiyaa will find it easier if they know few words that will help them find their ways. It is obvious that it will be of great help for those who have Oromo buddies and partners.

For scholars of those people that have related language with the Oromo there could be missed links that if joined might help developing each others languages. That calls for learning the language. Afaan Oromo is a language of peace and love. The prayers, poems and songs are infatuating. Who hates to be comforted or break the heart of ones sweetheart? Above all it is a world treasure intentionally being subjected to perish.

Languages are a gateway to peoples’ history, culture, tradition, and in short their civilization. So far people pay attention only to Middle Eastern religions as monotheist. The Oromo had been monotheist from time immemorial, probably as their forerunners. We can find elements of that fading religion in the language of the people that prophesied it. Like all religions Waaqeffannaa has passed through great changes. Waaqeffannaa during days of freedom had been subject to law of the land. It had never been told if it has shown cruelty by burning dissenters at stake.

What ever Waaqeffannaa has committed, it was within the cultural and traditional setting. Whether it had changed course or not it has clung to elements of the old and maintained cultural and spiritual assets like early Christians that survived tragedy of the Roman religion. It would be wise to critically search from under this ancient practice whatever is useful for language learning.

In addition, Oromiyaa is the cradle of Gadaa Democracy. Western democracy is rooted in Greek democracy. But when it is seen in historical perspective Gadaa is a more inclusive form of administration than the Greek one. Afaan Oromo was the language of those democrats. This is visible only to the wise and unbiased.

Therefore it will be helpful to investigate the language for deeper understanding of the past. For children born to the Diaspora the mother tongue had become a second language. To save such children from possible future crises the way to find their roots can start by teaching them the language of their people. Parents and the community have to fill the responsibility. Afaan Oromo was suppressed by barrel of the gun not market needs. Given the chance it could be one of the prominent languages of the market s in the region.

If you are one of the above mentioned go ahead and start with “abaca” (alphabet)! This work targets those learners who are already literate in the Latin alphabet. But others could also benefit from it if they have somebody to teach them. Follow the parts as they are presented and you will be reading Afaan Oromo by the time you master the alphabet.

First introduce yourself to the names of the alphabets, in particular the vowels. The vowels sound according to their names. Knowing how to pronounce the long and short sounds are a must if you have to read texts properly. Carefully listen to a native speaker to appreciate the long and short sounds.

Pay attention too, to strong and soft sounds of consonants. Examples are given showing that standing single and doubling had significant effect on the definition of the words used. If you misspell the word “cabbi” which means hail and write “cabii” it means a curse “get broken”. Therefore it will be beneficial to understand the essence of hard and strong sounds of consonants and long and short sounds of vowels.

Oromo Reader will come out with or after this work to help new readers practice their reading skill. So try to have them.

Gubirmans Publishing

June, 2010