Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to the following people and institutions for giving me their advice, knowledge, trust, encouragement, time, material, and money. Without their support, I would not have been able to finish this grammar.
First and foremost, I would like to thank the Mursi society who taught me their language and culture.
Most of all, I would like to thank my supervisors at the Language and Culture Research Centre (LCRC) of James Cook University, Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald and R.M.W. Dixon, who have been my mentors and constant sources of linguistic knowledge during my time in Cairns. I have learned a lot from your abundant knowledge that made me re-check my data, re-think the data and the analysis, including many of the views presented in this grammar.
Second, I thank my fieldwork Mursi consultants, Barihuny Girinomeri Araro Toko (primary consultant), Barkadhe Kulumedere (secondary consultant), Olirege Regge, Òlítùlà Olibùì, Ngarugo, Olelu Nyamanikiwo, Olikoro Runebisala Dumalo, Olikoro Takui, Barmoy, Olikoro Moges†, Oliregge Bikirinto, Ngarori Kashai, Arsiregge Gomonyokawulo, Bargolony, Olelu Olibui, Bartui Bergere, Olisorali Olibu, and Milisha. Without you, I wouldn’t have learnt Mursi.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Bettina Mütze who sent me a copy of her MA thesis from Germany at her own expense. Your material on the language was very helpful, so, thank you again.
Bandirachin Mulugeta, an exceptional friend, one of the most genuine people I have ever met, has contributed a lot to this grammar work in great many ways from the very beginning until the last days of the publication process of the book.
Special thanks go to my Jinka/Mursi families, Netsanet Endris (Netsa), Zinabuwa (Zine), Tesfalem Gadisa, Reta Belay, Mesay Seyoum, Esrael Adane, Yalew Ayele, Israel Bekele, Amare-Ayelech (Romos), Samson Ayele, Astewul Bati, Yared Gizachew, Anteneh Yirdaw, Alemneh Tasew, Demirew Yirga, Abinet Ashebir, Alula, Birhanu Tasew, Buche Tasew, Eniyew, Natnael, Mechenew, Mikael, Minyahel Manyazwal, Gude Are, Amede Ali, Dange Jemane (SORC), Berhanu Admasu (SORC), Yodit (SORC), and Mengistu Duncho (Wycliffe Ethiopia).
Next, many thanks to my family (Girma Worku, Biruk Mengesha, Muluken, Alemayehu, Woynishet, Zelalem, Yitagesu, Kidist, Rahel) and dearest friends at home and abroad, Ephrem Belete, Leulseged Kassa, Yemane Gebrekirstos, Henok Adam, Sadik, Kasaman, Bereket Tumay, Girum Shifetaw, Desalegn Woldeyohannes, Gebeyaw Getnet, Mengistu Endris, Adunya Yitna, Adisu, Befikadu Getachew, Eyob Muse, Jhonny Habte, Belay Bekele, and Mekuanint Mengistu, Beka Mekonin, Yared (Yaya), and Biniam Wubishet.
I thank the following friends and colleagues at JCU who have contributed opinions to my analysis through a number of weekly roundtable meetings of the LCRC: Simon Overall, Kasia Wojtylak, Nick Piper, Grant Aiton, Elena Mihas, Nathan White, Luca Ciucci, Neil (Alex) Walker, Pema Wangdi, Junwei Bai, Carola Emkow, Christoph Holz, Rob Bradshaw, and David Guerrero. Thank you again for your insightful questions and words of encouragement.
My special thanks goes to Brigitta Flick and Betsy Bradshaw who corrected grammatical, technical and stylistic errors of this grammar. For various administrative issues, David Ellis, Amanda Parsonage and Jolene Overall, thanks a lot for your generous support and time.
I am also very grateful to Azeb Amha, Christopher Eales, Daniel Aberra, Felix Ameka, Gerrit Dimmendaal, Maarten Mous, Moges Yigezu, and Rosita Henry for their advice, encouragement, and time.
“Leaders come and go but great leaders always stay in people’s heart”. Even if I am a hard worker person, I never had as joyful and hopeful times as Abiy’s times. Dear Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, thank you for the good times you brought to me and citizens of this great nation.
I am immensely grateful to Monika Feinen for her generosity in producing the beautiful maps which we find in the book.
This book would have never been brought to reality without the kindness and various supports from staffs of Brill Publisher.
Finally, I would like to thank the Australian Research Council grant “How gender shapes the world” granted to Distinguished Professor and Australian Laureate Fellow Alexandra Aikhenvald. At James Cook University, I thank the College of Art, Society and Education (CASE) for MRF Competitive Funding Project Grant (2018), and the Graduate Research School for the Scholarship for my research period between July 2019 and January 2020.