The Development Process of the Somali National Language and Script

Somalia is a country with a single language and a single ethnicity. Through immigration, religious dissemination, and colonial invasions, various foreign languages and scripts have successively integrated into the lives of the Somali people. These influences have enriched and contributed to the development of the Somali native language and script to some extent. However, the dominant position of the Somali national language in Somali social life has remained unchanged. The development and evolution of the Somali national language and script are important reflections of Somalia's history, culture, and social transformations. This paper traces the process from the origins of the Somali language and script—beginning with the era of oral transmission without written form, through the introduction of the Arabic script, the adoption of the Latin script, the creation of indigenous scripts, and finally the establishment of the modern Somali language and script. It summarizes the challenges encountered during this development and offers prospects for the future of the Somali language and script.