The Semantics of Clause Linking in Konso

Abstract Konso is a Cushitic language of about 200,000 speakers spoken in southern Ethiopia not far from the Kenyan border. Its closest relatives are Dirayta (or Gidole) and Oromo. Konso society is divided into farmers (etanta) and traders or craftsmen (xawdáa); farmers are in higher esteem. The people live in walled towns and their social organization is both by clan and by locality. The clan rulers also have some religious functions. The Konso are famous for their statues (waakkaa) for deceased heroes and clan leaders. The people live in a hilly area which is heavily overpopulated. Every inch of land is used for agriculture and river banks are protected against erosion to save farm land. The farmers grow many different crops which are often intermingled in the fields. Fields are family owned, fenced with low stone walls and have their own proper names. Konso culture has been extensively studied; some major publications are Hallpike (1972), Amborn (1989), and Watson (1998).