Language as an Index of Identity, Power, Solidarity and Sentiment in the Multicultural Community of Wollo Rukya Hassen* Faculty of Applied Linguistics, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia Corresponding author: Rukya Hassen (PhD), Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia, Tel: 0333115204; E-mail: rukyahassens@gmail.com Rec date: June 01 2016; Acc date: June 14, 2016; Pub date: June 28, 2016 Copyright: © 2016 Hassen R. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited Abstract Language serves different functions in different societies. The target group in this study uses their language for different purposes. This study is aimed at investigating the functions of the in-group code of the speech group, the most obvious characteristic feature of which is maintaining their religious and linguistic identity and making use of the language as an expression of power in their social structure. Language serves instrumental, symbolic, cognitive, sentimental, and other functions in the target community. In its instrumental function, language controls access to power, opportunity and material resources. Language carries an enormous political, social and economic power. In its symbolic function, language indexes identity. In terms of the cognitive dimension, language serves to influences the belief and thought systems of the speakers. The sentimental function of the code is maintained as a result of sanctity being attached with their religion. The speech code of the target community makes use of their language as an expression of identity. They reconstructed their religious and linguistic identity in the code they speak. By so doing they maintained Ethiopic or Amhara Identity. They indigenize or localize their religion, Islam, so that they wouldn’t be considered foreign in their own homeland. They also revealed Islamic identity in the speech code. The other significant feature of the speech code is its use as an expression of power. Amharic gained social and political power. Arabic gained sanctity power. By modifying Amharic and using some elements of Arabic lexical and grammatical repertoire, the community empowered Amharic, the local language. They also modified the social structure that helps to accommodate ideological power. Keywords: Language as index; Identity; Power; Solidarity; Sentiment Introduction Diversity is the norm in Ethiopia. Several ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity of diferent kinds co-exist for generations. Tere are many languages spoken in the country. While the major religions are orthodox Christianity, Islam and Protestant, there are also other religions that have signifcant number of followers. Diferent cultures are exhibited through the ways of dressing, living, eating and diferent social practice of their day to day activities. Diferent as they are, they do not live separately. Extensive contact mixed them to a great extent that they have developed sense of belongingness to each other. Tere is a lot of cultural and linguistic difusion among the diverse groups as a result of contact. Te majority of the people belong to Christianity and Islam in religion and Oromo and Amhara in language-based ethnic group. Historical records witness that these people show peaceful co-existence in contrast to what is happening in many parts of the world. Wollo is one of the mostly known areas of the country in this regard. Topographically, Wollo is bounded by Tigray in the North, Gojjam in the West, Shoa in the South and Afar in the East. Te capital city, Dessie, is 400 km away from Addis Ababa. Wollo is one of the very few places in the world where Muslims and Christians co-exist peacefully. Te community has a unique history of tolerance and peaceful coexistence that was revealed through their language. Tis community consists of a large number of Muslims and Christians. Wollo is where a large number of both Muslims and Christians have lived peacefully for a longer period of time. Popular opinion has it that many of the people are not strong in their religion and that they easily shif between orthodox Christianity and Islam. It is the place where nobody is surprised to fnd an Ahmed priest and a Gebre Shekh or Imam (Islamic honorifc title). It is also very common to have somebody from the family change his/her religion. It is also not so much amazing to see couples who are from diferent religions, i.e. the husband is a Muslim and the wife is a Christian or vice versa. Tese and many more distinctive ways of life of this community prove the fact that religious diference cannot prevent people from loving each other limitlessly to the edge. Te norms and rules of conduct in this society are designed by both religions. Te customs are shared. Each custom originated from either religion, but both follow it probably with a diferent label. For example, a ‘Christina Lig’ (God child) is a concept of the Christian society, and this concept is adopted by the Muslims by a label known as ‘Yayn Lig’ (Eye’s Child). Tere is a thick historical record that this community exhibits a harmonious and peaceful coexistence and an intense sense of belongingness. Te Wollo community is far more than mixed. Tere is a strong blood tie as there is intermarriage among Muslims and Christians. Tere is also cultural difusion and strong sense of togetherness that has been held for generations. Lots of signifcant cultural and historical contexts tie the Muslim-Christian Community of Wollo (ASMCW) [1]. Language carries the history, the culture, the tradition and the very life of people. Language cannot be conceived without people or vice versa. Te people and its language are inseparable. To know one means to know the other. Studying the linguistic and cultural features help to Hassen, J Socialomics 2016, 5:3 DOI: 10.41 72/2167-0358.1000174 Research Article Open Access J Socialomics ISSN:2167-0358 an open access journal Volume 5 • Issue 3 • 1000174 Journal of Socialomics J o u r n a l o f S o c i a l o m i c s ISSN: 2167-0358