Introductory Sketch of the Bantu Languages

Description

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & CO. Ltda, 1919. — 369 p.The Bantu family of languages is spoken throughout Southern and Central Africa, as far as the Gulf of Cameroons on the northwest, and the Tana river on the north-east. In the Cameroons and along the southern edge of the Congo basin, the line of demarcation between Bantu and non- Bantu (in this case Sudan or 'Nigritian ') languages is not very easy to draw. In the former territory we find several languages classed as ' SemiBantu,' or ' Bantoid,' which share certaincharacteristics with the family, though not apparently belonging to it. But these, and the exact delimitation of the frontier, need not concern us for the purposes of this book. The number of known Bantu languages is well over 200 ; but as there are probably others yet to be recorded, and as some names may have to be omitted (being synonyms, or denoting mere dialects if not altogether erroneous), this figure must be regarded as merely provisional.The principal features of the Bantu languages are so clearly marked in all, that, as far as grammar goes, a knowledge of one materially facilitates the acquisition of the rest. Most of them differ from each other no further than do French, Spanish and Italian; in some, the resemblance is even closer. Natives of one tribe cannot, in general, understand the language of another, without learning it (though they pick it up very easily), nor can the European expect to do so ; but the second language should cost him far less labour than the first. And an acquaintance with the framework of Bantu grammar, comprising, at least, those features which all the languages have in common (and which, to those who know only the idioms of Europe, are so striking and novel as to impress themselves readily on the memory) is a useful preparation for taking up the study of anyparticular language in Africa.