Amharic, also referred to as Amharinya, Amarinya and Kuchumba, is one of two major languages found in Ethiopia (the Oromo language being the other). Amharic is referred to as a Semitic language and is used in Northern Central Ethiopia, where it has recently become an officially recognized language. Outside of Ethiopia, Amharic is the language of some 2.7 million emigrants principally living in Egypt and Israel. The Amharic language is written using a system known as fidel (also called abugida) which has been adapted from the extinct Ge'ez language. Amharic is used by government, business, in public schools, by most newspapers, and amongst most educated Ethiopians. Many casual observers are puzzled and often amazed by the striking similarity of many of the symbols used in written Amharic which is one of its most distinctive features.