| Southern Bantu | |
|---|---|
| siNtu | |
| Geographic distribution | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
| Proto-language | Proto-Southern Bantu[1] |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | sout3387 |
The Southern Bantu or siNtu languages are a large group of Bantu languages, largely validated in Janson (1991/92).[2] They are nearly synonymous with Guthrie's Bantu zone S, apart from the debated exclusion of Shona and inclusion of Makhuwa. They include all of the major Bantu languages of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique, with outliers such as Lozi in Zambia and Namibia, and Ngoni in Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi.
History
[edit]Proto-Southern Bantu was first spoken some time during the 2nd millennium CE within the borderland between South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, where the different Southern Bantu subgroups meet.[3]
Languages
[edit]Language groups are followed by their code in the Guthrie classification. Makhuwa languages are included in this tree.
- Southern Bantu languages
- Makua (P30)
- Chopi (S60)
- Nguni languages (S40)
- Sotho–Tswana (S30 + K20):
- Tswana ("West Sotho")
- Birwa
- Tswapong
- Kgalagadi
- Sotho
- Northern Sotho (Sepedi)
- Southern Sotho (Sesotho)
- East Sotho (Pulana, Khutswe and Pai)
- Lozi
- Tswa–Ronga (S50):
- Shona-Venda
- Shona
- Eastern Shona group
- Central Shona group
- Korekore (S11) and Tawara
- Zezuru (S12)
- Manyika (S13) and Tewe
- Karanga (S14)
- Western Shona group
- Venda (S20)
- Shona
References
[edit]- ^ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective.
- ^ Tore Janson (1991-92) "Southern Bantu and Makua", Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika (SUGIA) Vol. 12/13: 63-106, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Cologne [1]
- ^ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective. p. 44.
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