Is the mutual unintelligiblity of Af-Maay over exagereated?

[Deleted L]

I’ve seen mixed opinions from many people who complain that Af-Maay is mutually unintelligible with most Somali dialects so it should be classified as a separate Somali language, on the other hand many people argue that when they hear Af-Maay speakers speak, it sounds like a creole Somali dialect so it is mutually intelligible to a certain degree and with more exposure, it would become mutually intelligible and very easy to pick up, similar to how colloquial Arabic dialects such as Egyptian and Levantine has been given a lot of exposure due to many movies, TV shows, music etc being in those dialects and Arabs not having much difficulty in understanding them and with the spread of the media giving more distinct dialects exposure, Arabs are able to understand most colloquial dialects (with the exception of North African Darija and a few others).

If Af-Maay can be learned in a few weeks or months or if we give it more exposure then do you think most Somalis, if not then many will be able to understand it? And do you think the difference between Af-Maay and Af-Mahaa is wildly over exaggerated and that Af-Maay is just a more obsure dialect but easier to pick up with some time and exposure?

 

[Bari🐍]

If you get a book with the most common maay phrases, you can learn the dialect relatively quickly. It's impossible for it to be classified as another language. Most Somalis just don't find a reason to learn it or don't want to.

 

[mohamedismail]

I’ve seen mixed opinions from many people who complain that Af-Maay is mutually unintelligible with most Somali dialects so it should be classified as a separate Somali language, on the other hand many people argue that when they hear Af-Maay speakers speak, it sounds like a creole Somali dialect so it is mutually intelligible to a certain degree and with more exposure, it would become mutually intelligible and very easy to pick up, similar to how colloquial Arabic dialects such as Egyptian and Levantine has been given a lot of exposure due to many movies, TV shows, music etc being in those dialects and Arabs not having much difficulty in understanding them and with the spread of the media giving more distinct dialects exposure, Arabs are able to understand most colloquial dialects (with the exception of North African Darija and a few others).

If Af-Maay can be learned in a few weeks or months or if we give it more exposure then do you think most Somalis, if not then many will be able to understand it? And do you think the difference between Af-Maay and Af-Mahaa is wildly over exaggerated and that Af-Maay is just a more obsure dialect but easier to pick up with some time and exposure?

I think af Maay is mutually intelligible based on the exposure you have to it. Southern Somalis who have more exposure tend to understand it much more easily.

Af Maay is definitely not mutually intelligible to someone from Waqooyi who never heard it a day in his life. On the other hand if you simply learn the grammatical differences as well as a couple phrases you will be able to understand it in a short time.

I personally think it has been neglected and the kacaan government should have put more effort into also writing af Maay and teaching it to people.

Also a lot of people when they say things like "afkaan aniga ma fahmaayo" are not being honest and are just being zenwphobic and have hate towards Maay.

I don't believe Somalis neccesarily have to learn how to speak af maay but I do believe that every Somali should put some effort into just understanding the language so if they meet a Maay speaker they can communicate .

Somalis will learn Arabic, english, Turkish etc but wont spend a few hours to try to understand a fellow Somali dialect.

 

[mohamedismail]

If you get a book with the most common maay phrases, you can learn the dialect relatively quickly. It's impossible for it to be classified as another language. Most Somalis just don't find a reason to learn it or don't want to.

Yes. Most Somalis don't want to. It's because they have a tribalist mindset. "Aniga maa af Eelaay baranaayo". It's a supremacist mindset.

 

[Burqad]

It’s ignorance. Unlike truly divergent dialects like jiido Maay can be learnt in 14 days

 

[Khaem]

I’ve seen mixed opinions from many people who complain that Af-Maay is mutually unintelligible with most Somali dialects so it should be classified as a separate Somali language, on the other hand many people argue that when they hear Af-Maay speakers speak, it sounds like a creole Somali dialect so it is mutually intelligible to a certain degree and with more exposure, it would become mutually intelligible and very easy to pick up, similar to how colloquial Arabic dialects such as Egyptian and Levantine has been given a lot of exposure due to many movies, TV shows, music etc being in those dialects and Arabs not having much difficulty in understanding them and with the spread of the media giving more distinct dialects exposure, Arabs are able to understand most colloquial dialects (with the exception of North African Darija and a few others).

If Af-Maay can be learned in a few weeks or months or if we give it more exposure then do you think most Somalis, if not then many will be able to understand it? And do you think the difference between Af-Maay and Af-Mahaa is wildly over exaggerated and that Af-Maay is just a more obsure dialect but easier to pick up with some time and exposure?

Yes I believe that some media done in the dialect would make the general somali population able to understand it. If you can study and learn it in a month then it isn't too different or hard.

But then again. I'm from djibouti so I won't understand it.

 

[Deleted L]

It’s ignorance. Unlike truly divergent dialects like jiido Maay can be learnt in 14 days

If you can learn Af-Maay within 14 days or a short period of time then it is absurd to classify it as a different language, it’s definitely a dialect of Af-Somali.

 

[Cartan Boos]

amhara have 12 dialect and oromo twice that, af may is easily understandable but somalis are very qabilist

 

[Dima&Damo]

Yes. Most Somalis don't want to. It's because they have a tribalist mindset. "Aniga maa af Eelaay baranaayo". It's a supremacist mindset.

Who would teach us their language people have other thinks to worry about then an another language

 

[Deleted L]

I think af Maay is mutually intelligible based on the exposure you have to it. Southern Somalis who have more exposure tend to understand it much more easily.

Af Maay is definitely not mutually intelligible to someone from Waqooyi who never heard it a day in his life. On the other hand if you simply learn the grammatical differences as well as a couple phrases you will be able to understand it in a short time.

I personally think it has been neglected and the kacaan government should have put more effort into also writing af Maay and teaching it to people.

Also a lot of people when they say things like "afkaan aniga ma fahmaayo" are not being honest and are just being zenwphobic and have hate towards Maay.

I don't believe Somalis neccesarily have to learn how to speak af maay but I do believe that every Somali should put some effort into just understanding the language so if they meet a Maay speaker they can communicate .

Somalis will learn Arabic, english, Turkish etc but wont spend a few hours to try to understand a fellow Somali dialect.

LOL true. A lot of Somalis for some odd reason look down on that dialect and you will get ridiculed if you speak it, even if it’s a Southern Af-Mahaa speaker who has familiarity with the dialect. Af-Maay probably needs more regular exposure and the majority will probably understand it well.

 

[mohamedismail]

Who would teach us their language people have other thinks to worry about then an another language

Somalis put time into learning foreign languages why wouldn't they put small amount of time to at least understand 5+ million Somalis they share a country with. At least familiarise yourself with the language
.

 

[mohamedismail]

LOL true. A lot of Somalis for some odd reason look down on that dialect and you will get ridiculed if you speak it, even if it’s a Southern Af-Mahaa speaker who has familiarity with the dialect. Af-Maay probably needs more regular exposure and the majority will probably understand it well.

Alhamdullilah due to social media and new news channels like radio arlaadi coming out people are becoming more familiar with the dialect. But still a lot of work needs to be done.

You don't even have to neccecarily even learn the language just don't be ignorant and bellitle it.

 

[Yazir]

I think even the maay itself has a different dielects, I understand partially to some of them but there some others whom I can't figure a single word of what they are saying