%0 Journal Article
%T Official Language Choice in Ethiopia: Means of Inclusion or Exclusion?
%A Milkessa Midega
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 1
%N 7
%P 1-13
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2014
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1100932
%X Official language choice in a multilingual
polity is a challenging phenomenon. One of such polities, Ethiopia, took ¡°historical
accident¡± justifications for grant to select its official language which unequivocally
disregards its own linguistic diversities. Amharic language has been
arbitrarily designated as the sole official language of Ethiopia since the
making of modern Ethiopia. This piece uses government documents and other
literature to examine Ethiopia¡¯s official language choice and its consequences.
Overall, the findings show that the knowledge of Amharic language remained determinant
in order to access federal government institutions thereby serving as a means
of exclusion of non-official language speakers, such as Oromo, the largest
ethnic group in the country. This work thus suggests rethinking official
language of Ethiopia.
%K Afaan Oromoo
%K Amharic
%K Federal Government
%K Official Language
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/3104650