A Grammar of Kistane (Ethiopian Semitic)

By (author) Aaron D. Rubin

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Extent: 818 pages

Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag

Series: Semitica Viva

Series volume number: 70

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(August 2026)

ISBN: 9783447125796

6.69 x 9.45 inches

Price: $185.00

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Aaron D. Rubin provides the first full-length grammatical description of Kistane (also known as Soddo), a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia, and one of the so-called Gurage languages. Based on the ethnographic and folkloric texts collected by Wolf Leslau, as well as modern native sources, this grammar presents a detailed account of the phonology, morphology, and syntax of this important but understudied language.
The grammatical analysis is supported by numerous contextual examples, along with lexical, historical linguistic, and comparative Semitic commentary. All examples are presented with full morphological glosses and English translations, making the data accessible to any reader with some knowledge of linguistics. The volume also includes a thorough introduction, a map of the Gurage linguistic area, a comparison between Kistane and Amharic, a previously unpublished Kistane text, and a comprehensive bibliography.

  • By (author) Aaron D. Rubin

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