Konso language

{{Short description|Cushitic language spoken in southwestern Ethiopia}}

{{Infobox language

|name = Konso

|nativename = {{lang|kxc|አፈ ኾንሶ}} (äfä honəso)

|pronunciation =

|states = Ethiopia

|region = South of Lake Chamo in the bend of the Sagan River

|speakers = {{sigfig|243,300|2}}

|date = 2007

|ref = [http://www.csa.gov.et/images/documents/pdf_files/regional/CountryLevel.pdf Ethiopia 2007 Census]{{e27|kxc|Konso}}

|dia1=Duuro

|dia2=Fasha

|dia3=Karatti

|dia4=Kholme

|familycolor = Afro-Asiatic

|fam2 = Cushitic

|fam3 = Lowland East

|fam4 = Oromoid

|fam5 = Konsoid

|iso3=kxc

|glotto=kons1243

|glottorefname=Konso

|script=Ethiopic script

}}

Konso (Komso, Khonso, also Af Kareti, Afa Karatti, Conso, Gato, Karate, Kareti) is a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in southwest Ethiopia. Native speakers of Konso number about 200,000 (SIL 2005). Konso is closely related to Dirasha (also known as Gidole), and serves as a "trade language"—or lingua franca—beyond the area of the Konso people. Blench (2006) considers purported dialects Gato and Turo to be separate languages.Blench, 2006. [http://rogerblench.info/Language/Afroasiatic/General/AALIST.pdf The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List] (ms)

The Grammar of Konso was first described by Hellenthal (2004), and later, in more detail, by Ongaye (2013). The New Testament was published in the Konso language in 2002.