Bench
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A language of Ethiopia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Dizu, Ghimarra, Gimarra, Gimira
Population
347,000 (2007 census). 14,300 Mer. 150,000 monolinguals. L2 users: 22,600.
Location
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Mizan Teferi area.
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Dialects
Bench (Bencho, Benesho), Mer (Mieru), She (Kaba, Sce).
Typology
SOV; tonal, 5 level tones, 1 glide.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 12% Amharic. Pilot education project begun in 2008. Taught in primary schools as medium of instruction for grades 1–3. Grade 4 materials are being developed. Radio programs. NT: 1990.
Language Resources
Traditional religion.