Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Kayla dialect

Kayliñña is one of two Agaw languages formerly spoken by a subgroup of the Beta Israel. It is a transitional dialect between Qimant and Xamtanga. The name Kayla (ካይላ) is sometimes also used as a cover term for both Beta Israel dialects. It is known only from unpublished notes by Jacques Faitlovitch written in the Ge'ez script, recently studied by David Appleyard. It is preserved by the Beta Israel today.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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165 w
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Kayla
Kayliñña
Native toEthiopia
RegionAmhara Region, Tigray Region
Extinct(date missing)
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologkayl1240

Kayliñña (Tigrinya and Amharic: ካይልኛ, romanized: kāyliññā) is one of two Agaw languages formerly spoken by a subgroup of the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews). It is a transitional dialect between Qimant and Xamtanga. The name Kayla (ካይላ) is sometimes also used as a cover term for both Beta Israel dialects. It is known only from unpublished notes by Jacques Faitlovitch written in the Ge'ez script, recently studied by David Appleyard. It is preserved by the Beta Israel today.

See also

See also

Bibliography

Bibliography

  • Appleyard, David (1996), "Kaïliña – a 'new' Agaw dialect and its implications for Agaw dialectology", in Hayward, R.J.; Lewis, I. (eds.), Voice and Power: The Culture of Language in North-East Africa, London: SOAS, pp. 1–19, ISBN 0-7286-0257-1
  • David Appleyard, "Preparing a Comparative Agaw Dictionary", in ed. Griefenow-Mewis & Voigt, Cushitic & Omotic Languages: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium Berlin, Mar. 17-19, 1994, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Köln 1996. ISBN 3-927620-28-9.
References

References