Abstract:
This study investigates the language use and linguistic identity of Deka town speech
community. It focuses on Kafinoonoo, Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Shekinoonoo native
speakers who live in Deka town. The study employs 292 randomly selected respondents for
the questionnaire and 20 purposefully selected respondents for the semi-structured interview
to collect data on language use and linguistic identity from the Deka town speech community.
A mixed research approach and a descriptive survey design are used as the methodology for
the study. The four data collection tools used in this research are a questionnaire, a semi
structured interview guide, document analysis and a sociolinguistic domain observation
checklist. The findings of the study show that Shekinoonoo linguistic groups in the study area
are limited to use their native language at home. This linguistic group has negative attitudes
towards Kafinoonoo, Afan Oromo, and Amharic linguistic groups for luack of use of their
language for practice. The dominant patterns of language use across Kafinoonoo, Afan
Oromo, and Amharic linguistic groups affect the Shekinoonoo linguistic inhabitants in
multilingual Deka town. In the market domain for buying different things from rural people
who come to the Mashene market, Amharic is used as the lingua franca in this market
domain. According data finding from the observation, Amharic is mostly used in recreational
areas with friends more than Kafinoonoo and Afan Oromo. All respondents claim that they
are proud of using their respective languages to express themselves and their culture. The
study recommends that town administration should provide institutional support for
Shekinoonoo, along with their culture to exercise like that of Kafinoonoo, Afan Oromo, and
Amharic.
