"This book is one outcome of the research which Prof. Abdalla, who has thought deeply about Somali language and society, has undertaken for a long time. What is more is the way he shows us in the book the importance of the relationship between language, society and history. This book is a new source which people concerned with Somali studies need to read and think about."
- Dr Martin Orwin,
(Faculty of Languages and Cultures, SOAS University of London)
Ulajeeddada buuggani ma aha keliya in aan wax laga qoro taariikhda Soomaaliyeed, maadaama ay jiraan aqoonyahanno badan oo tixgelin mudan ay buuggan hortiis isku taxallujiyeen taariikhda Soomaaliyeed, laakiin ulajeeddooyinka ugu weyni waa labo: in wax laga ifiyo taariikhdii hore ee Soomaaliyeed oo laga eegayo dhanka cilmi-afeedka iyo dhaqanka, iyo in si cilmiyeysan loo falanqeeyo habka ay u dhisanyihiin qabaa'ilka Soomaaliyeed iyo abtirsigooda, si loo muujiyo in ayna sax wada ahayn sida dhaqan ahaan loo arko nidaamka uu tolku u samaysanyahay.
Sida aad u arki doontid, qabiil kasta oo ka tiirsan qabaa'ilka Soomaaliyeed wuxuu ka koobanyahay dad u dhashay iyo dad aan u dhalan oo isku milmay, kuwaasoo, si looga gudbo noloshii adkayd ee miyiga, dantu ku khasabtay inay isbahaystaan, gaar ahaan Soomaalida geela dhaqata haba ugu badnaatee. Waxaan ognahay in geelu uu yahay duunyada sida aadka ah looga jecelyahay Soomaalida dhexdeeda, maxaayeeley isagaa ugu nacfi iyo adkaysiba badan xoolaha, degaanka oomanaha ah. Taasina waxay keentay in layska dhaco, laguna dagaallamo.
Sidaa darteed lagama maarmaan ayay ahayd, inta aan dawlad la helin, in qofku ku tiirsanaado tol, ha u dhasho tolkaas ama ha sheegto, si naftiisa iyo xoolihiisu ay u badbaadaan. Oraahdan caanka ah ayaan ka dheehan karnaa arrintaas "Ama buur ahaw ama buur ku tiirsanow" (yacnii, haddaadan cudud lahayn qabiil xoog leh ku tiirsanow).
Qoraaga oo soo bandhigayaa cilmibaaris uu waqti badan u huray, oo ka jawaabeysa su'aalo Soomaali badan maankooda ku wareegaaya, wuxuu qoraalkiisa si cilmiyaysan ku salalaynayaa qaybaha dhaqanka Soomaalida: afka iyo lahjadihiisa, maansada, sheekooyinka hiddaha, maahmaahda, abtirsiga, iwm.
