Omótico

Omotic, or Omotic languages, is a proposed branch of the Afroasiatic language family. The name comes from the Omo River region of southwestern Ethiopia, where many Omotic languages are spoken. The classification of Omotic is controversial: although many linguists treat Omotic as a valid Afroasiatic branch, others argue that it may form a distinct language family or that its relationship to Afroasiatic is uncertain. The debate reflects limited comparative data and substantial language contact in the Ethiopian highlands.

Geographically, Omotic languages are concentrated in southwestern Ethiopia, with speakers in the Omo Valley and nearby highlands. The family comprises numerous languages, including Wolaytta, Dawro, Gamo, Gofa, Basketo, and several others; many have relatively small speaker communities and face endangerment to varying degrees. Internal subgrouping is debated, with proposed divisions such as North Omotic and Central-Southern Omotic, though consensus on internal hierarchy is lacking.

Linguistically, Omotic languages show diverse features. They include varying consonant inventories and, in some languages, tonal systems. Typical word orders are subject–verb–object, but there is substantial variation across languages. The Omotic languages have a long history of language contact with Cushitic and Nilo-Saharan languages, influencing phonology, lexicon, and syntax in the region.

Scholarly work on Omotic has grown since the mid-20th century, but the family remains poorly attested compared with other Afroasiatic branches. Documentation ranges from descriptive grammars to comparative studies, and ongoing fieldwork aims to clarify genetic relationships within Omotic and with Afroasiatic more broadly.