Wakjira, Bedilu (PhD)Deressa, Tadele2021-03-182023-11-082021-03-182023-11-082013-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/25592The main objective of this study is to describe and analyze the sociology linguistic situations of linguistically heterogeneous sellings in Jimma town. To achieve the intended objective, 280 respondents were involved in the study. The required data were obtained through questionnaire, interview and observation. The collected data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. The result of the study revealed that Jill1l11a is a multilingual tOlvn with nine languages spoken as MT and SL: Afan Oromo, Amharic, Dawro, Yem, Kajinoonoo, Silt'e, Chaha, Ezha and Tigrigna. Of these languages, Afan Oromo is acquired as MT by majority of the respondents followed by Amharic whereas Tigrigna and Ezha are acquired as MT by afew respondents. Amharic is largely learned as SL by majority of the respondents followed by Afan Oronto whereas Chaha and Tigrigna are learned as SLbafew respondents. A considerable number of respondents from all the ethnic groups acquired Am.haric as MT followed by Afan Oromo. Hence, there is a greater tendency to shift from all the languages to Amharic. [n the home domain, all the languages are used while respondents communicate with their parents, grandparents and siblings. However, a shift to Amharic is evidenced when respondents communicate with their spouse and children. [n the neighbourhood, friendship and recreational domains, Amharic is dominantly used followed by Afan Oromo. Furthermore, Amharic is widely used in public transportations, schools, religions and social gathering places. On the other hand, Afan. Oromo is extensively used in governmental offices: court, public security and workplace. [n market domain and health centers, the alternate use of Amharic and Afall Oromo is pollination. Amharic is found to be the major language of out-group communication (lingua franca) ill the town. Due to frequent and intense contact of differel1l language speakers, some outcomes of language contact: borrowing, code switching and code mixing are Manifested.enLanguage UseJimma TownThesis