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 [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.

Contents

History

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

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

References

  1. ↑ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective.
  2. ↑ Tore Janson (1991-92) "Southern Bantu and Makua", Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika (SUGIA) Vol. 12/13: 63-106, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, Cologne
  3. ↑ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective. p. 44.


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