Language Use and Lingo-Cultural Identity among Linguistically Diverse Young People in Sheger Sub-cities Surrounding the Capital City of Ethiopia.

This study investigates how the rapid urbanization of Addis Ababa/Finfinne, Ethiopia's capital, influences language use and lingo-cultural identity among youth in the Sheger sub-cities surrounding the city (SSSAA/F). Using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods with 151 adolescent participants, the research finds a significant shift toward Amharic—a dominant urban language—at the expense of Afan Oromo, the indigenous Oromo community's language, especially as urbanization intensifies and years of residence increase. The study highlights divergent language use patterns across domains such as family, school, and public spaces, revealing linguistic dualism and social exclusion that affect indigenous identity. It concludes that without inclusive language policies recognizing linguistic diversity, urban expansion may reinforce monolingualism and marginalize indigenous languages and identities in multilingual urban settings.