There are several thousand languages spoken in the world, however it is estimated that about 100 account for 95% of the world's population. Languages can be grouped together into families on the basis of similarities of vocabulary and grammatical structure. It has been suggested that languages in the same family have common origins or antecedents. Languages families are divided into branches or sub-groups. For example, some of the branches of the Indo-European language family include the Indo-Iranian languages, the Romance languages, the Germanic languages (which include English) and the Celtic languages. Similarly, the Semitic languages form a sub-group of the Afro-Asiatic language family, and the Bantu languages form a sub-group of the Niger-Congo language family.
Languages of Africa
Region
|
Indigenous African languages, families and
sub-groups |
North Africa and the Horn of Africa
| Arabic and other languages in the Afro-Asiatic or Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| West Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa. |
The languages belong to the Niger-Congo family., which can be sub-divided into several branches or sub-group.
The main ones are: -
Mande, West Atlantic (both spoken in West Africa)
Gur, (spoken in Northern Ghana, Upper Volta, Togo and Mali)
Kwa, (includes most of the languages of Nigeria, except Hausa, and many of the languages of Ghana, Togo and Benin
Benu-Congo, (covering some Bantoid languages spoken in Nigeria and the Bantu languages spoken south of a line stretching from the Cameroons in the west to Kenya in the east.
|
| Sudan and the Sahara |
Smaller language families: -
Chari-Nile or Macro-Sudanic group.
Khoisan or Clicl languages (which include Bushman, Hottentot and Hatsu).
|
Island of Malagassy
|
A Polynesian language is spoken.
|
In addition to these indigenous African languages, European languages (such as English and French) are widely used and constitute the official language of some African countries, although they may be the mother tongue of only a small proportion of the inhabitants. Finally there are sizeable minorities speaking Indian languages in Some East African countries.
Main language families.
|
Languages and sub-groups.
|
Context
|
| Indo-European | Includes: - Most of the languages of Europe, India Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran. Subgroups include: - Indo-Iranian, Romance, Germanic Slavic, Celtic and Hellenic languages. | Largest language family Spoken by about half the, world’s population |
| Sino-Tibetan | Includes : - Chinese, Burmese, Thai and Lao | Forms second largest group |
| Niger-Congo. | Includes: - large group of Bantu languages spoken in Central, East and Southern Africa and most of the languages spoken in West Africa (known as the West Sudanic sub-group). | Main family of African of languages |
| Afro-Asiatic orHamito-Semitic | Includes: - the subgroup of Semitic languages such as Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic, the Berber languages, the Cushitic laguages (e.g. Somali,Galla) spoken in the Horn of Africa,and Hausa which forms part of the Chadic sub-group. | y |
| Malayo-Polynesian | Includes: - Malay, Indonesian, the languages of the Philippines, Melanesia and Polynesia | g |
| Dravidian | Consists of: - mainly South Indian languages such as Tamil and Teluga | y |
| Altaic | Includes: - Turkish, Mongolian and various languages spoken in Central Soviet Asia | g |
| Uralic | Includes: - Hungarian and Finnish, as well as some languages spoken in Central European Russia | y |
| Chari-Nile | Includes: - languages spoken in Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Chad | g |
| Mon-Khmer | Includes: - Khmer National language of Kampuchea | y |
| Language | Where spoken | Context |
| Arabic | North Africa | An Afro-Asiatic or Hamito-Semitic language. |
| Abua | River States, Nigeria. | |
| Acholi | Uganda | A Nilotic language |
| Afrikaans | South Africa | Developed from Dutch, an Indo- European language |
| Akan | Ghana, Ivory Coast | Sometimes called "Twi-Fante". It is both a language and a dialect of Twi- Fante. It is a member of the Niger- Congo family. |
| Ambo | Northern Namibia and Angola | The language of the Ovambo people. It is a Bantu language and belongs to the Congo family. |
| Amharic | Ethiopia | The National Language of Ethiopia. It is a Semitic language and belongs to theHamito-Semitic language family. It is written in the Ethiopic or Amharic script. |
| Arabic | Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Sudan and Northern Chad | The official language of Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and the Sudan. Also spoken on other continents. |
| Asante | Ghana | An Akan dialect, it is sometimes called Ashanti. |
| Bariba | Togo, Benin and Nigeria | It belongs to the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Bassa | Cameroons and Central West Africa | A Bantu Language. |
| Bemba | Tanzania High Commission | A Bantu language, part of the Niger- Congo family. |
| Berber | Morocco and Algeria | A group of very similar languages, which form a branch of the Hamito- Semitic language family. |
| Buli | Congo (Brazzaville) and Central African Republic. | A Bantu language. |
| Che | Ghana and Togol | A Dialect of Tobote, a Gur language |
| Dagari | Northern Ghana | A Gur language |
| Dagbane | Northern Ghana and Togo | Belongs to the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Dari | Chad | A Chadic language and part of the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Dinka | Sudan and Ethiopia | A group of related Chari-Nile or Nilotic languages. |
| Edo | Nigeria, the Niger River Delta | A member of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Efik | The town of Calabar in Nigeria | Also known as Ibibio. A member of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| English | Mauritius and the Seychelles | The official language. |
| Emai | Nigeria | Belongs to the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Ewe | ESouth-Eastern Ghana, Togo and Benin | Togo A member of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Fang | Southern Cameroons, Equatorial Guinea, and northern Gabon. | A Bantu language. |
| Fante | Ghana, in the forest area west of the Volta river. | Closely related to Twi, regarded by linguists as a dialect of the same language called "Twi-Fante" or Akan. |
| Fon | Southern Benin | A member of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| French | The Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Benin, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Upper Volta, and Zaire. Burundi, Cameroons, Malagasy Republic, and Rwanda. |
The official language.
One of the official languages, for some mother tongue and for others a second language
|
| French Creole | Muaritius and the Seychelles. | Spoken widely although English is the official language. |
| Fulani | ZNorthern Nigeria, Mali and Mauritania | A member of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Ga | Coastal area of Accra, Ghana | Zimbabwe House, 429 Strand |
| Gane | Burkina Faso | Belongs to the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. |
| Galla | Ethiopia and north-eastern Kenya | Also called Oromo. It is a Cushitic language and a member of the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Gogo | Kenya and Tanazania | A Bantu language. |
| Guan | Ghana | Also known as Gonja. It is a Volta-Comoe language. |
| Gurage | Ethiopia | Three Semitic languiages:- Central West Gurage, East Gurage and Peripheral West Gurage. Harari is a dialect of East Gurage. |
| Gurma | Northern Ghana and Togo, and in Upper Volta, eastern Ghana. | A member of the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Hausa | Northern Nigeria and Niger | It belongs to the Chadic sub-group of the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Ibo | East central State of Nigeria | Also known as Igbo. It is a member of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Idoma | Benue Plateau State in Nigeria | A member of the Kwa sub-group Niger-Congo language family. |
| Igbira | Mid Western State Nigeria | Also known as Ebira. Niger-Congo language. |
| Ijo | Niger River Delta | Also known as Ijaw. Ijo dialects include Kalabari, Nembe and Okrika. |
| Ishan | Benin province of Nigeria | A language related to Edo. |
| Kache | East Africa | A Bantu language. |
| Kamba | Kenya | A Bantu language |
| Katab | Zaria province in Nigeria | Also called Tyap or Atyap. A Niger-Congo language |
| Khana | Ogoni diversions of Rivers State in Nigeria | |
| Kikuyu | Kenya | One of the major languages of Kenya. A Bantu language. |
| Komoro | Central East Africa | Kingwana is one of the dialects of Komoro. |
| Kongo | Zaire, Angola and Congo | (Kikongo) - A Bantu language. |
| Kono | Liberia, Mali and Sierre Leone | It belongs to the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Kpelle | Liberia and Guinea | It belongs to the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo language. |
| Kposo | Togo, near the border with Ghana | A Kwa language and part of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Krio | Sierre Leone and Gambia | An English based Creole. The home language of many people in Sierre Leone and Gambia. Aku is a Krior dialect used in Gambia. |
| Kru | Liberia and the Ivory Coast | A Niger-Congo language. |
| Kuma | Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda | Also known as Arusha. A Bantu language. |
| Lamnso | Bamenda prefecture of Cameroons. | A Bantoid language, belonging to the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Limba | Sierre Leone and Guinea | A member of the West Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Lingala | Zaire and Congo (Brazzaville) | Also known as Losengo. A Bantu language. |
| Lozi | South-western Zambia | A Bantu language. |
| Luba | Zaire | A Bantu language. |
| Luganda | Uganda | Also known as Ganda. A Bantu language. |
| Lugwere | Central East Africa | Also known as Gwere. A Bantu language. |
| Luo | Kenya and Tanzania | A Chari-Nile language. |
| Makua | Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi | A Bantu language. |
| Malinke | Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Mali, and Ivory Coast | A West African Mande language. |
| Mambwe | Zambia and Tanzania. | A Bantu language. |
| Maragoli | Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zaire. | Also called Ragoli or Logooli. A Bantu language. |
| Masaba | Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. | A Bantu language. One of the dialects is Lugisu. |
| Mbo | Cameroons, Rio Muni, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville) and Central African Republic. | A Bantu language. Dialects include Bafaw and Bakosi. |
| Mende | Sierre Leone. | The most important indigenous language of Sierre Leone. A Member of the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Ndebele | Southwest Zambia and South Africa. | Also known as Matabele. Ndebele is similar to Zulu. It is a Bantu language. |
| Nkutu | Zaire and Congo (Brazzaville). | A Bantu language. Kalo is one of the dialects. |
| Nsenga | Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. | A Bantu language. |
| Nubian | Central Sudan. | A member of the Chari-Nile language family. |
| Nuer | Southern Sudan. | Chari-Nile or Nilotic language. |
| Nyang | Western Cameroons. | Also known as Bayang. A Bantoid language. |
| Nyanja | Malawi and Zambia. | A major language of these two countries. In the former it is known as (Chi-) Chewa. It is a Bantu language. |
| Nyari | Central Africa. | A Bantu language. |
| Nzema | Central Ghana. | Related to Akan. A member of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Oku | Cameroons. | Also known as Ukfwo. A Bantoid language. |
| Oring | Nigeria | A Niger-Congo language. Utonkon, a Oring dialect is spoken in Utonkon district,Idoma division of Benue Plateau State |
| Portuguese | Angola, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique. | The official language of these countries. |
| Ruanda | Ruanda and Uganda. | A Bantu language. |
| Runyankore | Uganda, near the Tanzanian border. | A Bantu language. |
| Rutoro | Uganda. | Also known as Nyoro or Runyoro. A Bantu language. |
| Shangaan | Mozambique and South Africa. | Also known as Tsonga or Tonga. A Bantu language. |
| Shona | Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. | A Bantu language. |
| Sidamo | Ethiopia. | Belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Hamito-Semitic language family. Uses Amharic script. |
| Somali | Somalia and Ethiopia. | The official language of Somalia. Belongs to Cushitic branch of the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Sotho | Republic of South Africa and South Africa. | One of the main Bantu languages in Lesotho. Also called Sesotho. |
| Sukuma | Tanzania | A Bantu language. |
| Sukur | Cameroons. | Also called Shakiri. Belongs to the Chadi sub-group of the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Swahili | Tanzania and Kenya. | The official language of these two countries. Widely used in East Africa. The mother tongue of many and the second language of many more. A Bantu language but contains words of Arabic origin. |
| Swazi | Swaziland and South Africa | A Bantu language. |
| Tari | Zaria province of Nigeria. | A Niger-Congo language. |
| Temne | Sierre Leone. | Belongs to the West Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Tigre | Tigre province of Ethiopia. | A Semitic language belonging to the Hamito- Semitic language family. |
| Tigrinya | Tigre and Eritrea province of Ethiopia. | A Semitic language. It belongs to the Hamito-Semitic language family. |
| Tiv | Benue province of Nigeria. | A Bantiod language |
| Tooro | Central East Africa. | A Bantu language |
| Tswana | Botswana and South Africa. | Similar to Sotho and sometimes called Western Sotho. A Bantu language. |
| Tumbuka | Northern Malawi. | A Bantu language. |
| Twi | Ghana. | Together with Fante, to which it is related, the most important language of Ghana |
| Ukaan | In certain villages in Akoko division, Western State, Nigeria. | |
| Ukele | South Eastern State, Nigeria. | Also called Kukele. |
| Urhobo | Mid-Western state south of Benin city Nigeria. | Isoko is an important dialect of Urhobo. A Nigerian Language. |
| Win | Ghana | Gur language. |
| Wolof | Senegal and Gambia. | Also known as Jolof. A member of the West Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. |
| Xhosa | Transkei and eastern Cape Province of South Africa. | 9Sometimes regarded together with Zulu as a dialect of the language "Nguni". A Bantu language. |
| Yaunde | Cameroons. | North Western Bantu language. |
| Yoruba | Nigeria. | One of the major languages of Nigeria. Spoken in the south west of Nigeria around Ibaban. Yoruba dialects include Itsekiri or Shekiri, and Ondo. A Niger-Congo language. |
| Yunger | Nigeria. | Roba is a Yunger dialect. |
| Zulu | South Africa. | Closely related to Xhosa. Some linguists regard Zulu and Xhosa as Nguni dialects. |
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