Southern Bantu languages

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Southern Bantu
siNtu
Geographic
distribution
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini
Linguistic classification Niger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Southern Bantu
Language codes
Glottolog sout3387

The Southern Bantu or siNtu languages are a large group of Bantu languages, largely validated in Janson (1991/92). [1] 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.

Languages

Language groups are followed by their code in the Guthrie classification. Makhuwa languages are included in this tree.

References

  1. Tore Janson (1991-92) "Southern Bantu and Makua", Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika (SUGIA) Vol. 12/13: 63-106, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Cologne