Bantoid is a major branch of the Benue–Congo language family. It consists of the Northern Bantoid languages and the Southern Bantoid languages, a division which also includes the Bantu languages that constitute the overwhelming majority and after which Bantoid is named.
| Bantoid | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Sub-Saharan Africa, but not farther west than Nigeria |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo?
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Bantoid |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | bant1294 |
 The Bantoid languages shown within the Niger–Congo language family. Non-Bantoid languages are greyscale. | |
History
The term "Bantoid" was first used by Krause in 1895 for languages that showed resemblances in vocabulary to Bantu. Joseph Greenberg, in his 1963 The Languages of Africa, defined Bantoid as the group to which Bantu belongs together with its closest relatives; this is the sense in which the term is still used today.
However, according to Roger Blench, the Bantoid languages probably do not actually form a coherent group.
Internal classification
A proposal that divided Bantoid into North Bantoid and South Bantoid was introduced by Williamson. In this proposal, the Mambiloid and Dakoid languages (and later Tikar) are grouped together as North Bantoid, while everything else Bantoid is subsumed under South Bantoid; Ethnologue uses this classification.
The phylogenetic unity of the North Bantoid group is sometimes thought to be questionable, and the Dakoid languages are often now placed outside Bantoid.[citation needed] But the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit. Southern Bantoid includes the well known and numerous Bantu languages.
References
- Watters, John R. (2018). East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs. Language Science Press. ISBN 9783961101009.
- Asher, R. E.; Moseley, Christopher (19 April 2018). Atlas of the World's Languages. Routledge. ISBN 9781317851097.
- Roger Blench. "Niger-Congo: an alternative view" (PDF). Rogerblench.info. pp. 2, 4. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
- Williamson, Kay (1989) 'Niger–Congo Overview'. In: The Niger–Congo languages, ed. by John Bendor-Samuel, 3–45. University Press of America.
- Blench, Roger [1987] 'A new classification of Bantoid languages.' Unpublished paper presented at 17th Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics, Leiden.
- Williamson, Kay & Blench, Roger (2000) 'Niger–Congo', in Heine, Bernd and Nurse, Derek (eds) African Languages – An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, pp. 11–42.
External links
- Kirill Babaev, Reconstructing Bantoid Pronouns
- Journal of West African Languages: Bantoid languages
Bantoid is a major branch of the Benue Congo language family It consists of the Northern Bantoid languages and the Southern Bantoid languages a division which also includes the Bantu languages that constitute the overwhelming majority and after which Bantoid is named BantoidGeographic distributionSub Saharan Africa but not farther west than NigeriaLinguistic classificationNiger Congo Atlantic CongoVolta CongoBenue CongoBantoidProto languageProto BantoidSubdivisionsNorthern Bantoid Southern BantoidLanguage codesISO 639 3 Glottologbant1294The Bantoid languages shown within the Niger Congo language family Non Bantoid languages are greyscale HistoryThe term Bantoid was first used by Krause in 1895 for languages that showed resemblances in vocabulary to Bantu Joseph Greenberg in his 1963 The Languages of Africa defined Bantoid as the group to which Bantu belongs together with its closest relatives this is the sense in which the term is still used today However according to Roger Blench the Bantoid languages probably do not actually form a coherent group Internal classificationA proposal that divided Bantoid into North Bantoid and South Bantoid was introduced by Williamson In this proposal the Mambiloid and Dakoid languages and later Tikar are grouped together as North Bantoid while everything else Bantoid is subsumed under South Bantoid Ethnologue uses this classification The phylogenetic unity of the North Bantoid group is sometimes thought to be questionable and the Dakoid languages are often now placed outside Bantoid citation needed But the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit Southern Bantoid includes the well known and numerous Bantu languages The Bantoid branches of Nigeria and CameroonReferencesWatters John R 2018 East Benue Congo Nouns pronouns and verbs Language Science Press ISBN 9783961101009 Asher R E Moseley Christopher 19 April 2018 Atlas of the World s Languages Routledge ISBN 9781317851097 Roger Blench Niger Congo an alternative view PDF Rogerblench info pp 2 4 Retrieved 2013 10 16 Williamson Kay 1989 Niger Congo Overview In The Niger Congo languages ed by John Bendor Samuel 3 45 University Press of America Blench Roger 1987 A new classification of Bantoid languages Unpublished paper presented at 17th Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics Leiden Williamson Kay amp Blench Roger 2000 Niger Congo in Heine Bernd and Nurse Derek eds African Languages An Introduction Cambridge Cambridge University press pp 11 42 External linksKirill Babaev Reconstructing Bantoid Pronouns Journal of West African Languages Bantoid languages
