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Africa's Linguistic Diversity
Article first published online: 25 FEB 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-818X.2008.00124.x
© 2009 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Sands, B. (2009), Africa's Linguistic Diversity. Language and Linguistics Compass, 3: 559–580. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-818X.2008.00124.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 17 MAR 2009
- Article first published online: 25 FEB 2009
- Language and Linguistics Compass 3/2 (2009): 559–580, 10.1111/j.1749-818x.2008.00124.x
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
African language classification in the latter half of the 20th century has been dominated by Joseph Greenberg's work classifying African languages into four linguistic genetic groupings: Afroasiatic, Niger-Kordofanian, Nilo-Saharan, and Khoisan. Current research indicates that there are a minimum of 20 unrelated African language families or isolates. Africa's linguistic diversity will remain poorly documented unless significant efforts are made to document some of the continent's most endangered, underdescribed languages and language families.