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I've always, well more like recently, begin wondering what languages were spoken by the various peoples of Africa, before the influence of Colonialism...and or excluding the whole Egyptian culture...
I'm talken deep down, in the middle of Africa type languages...
I mean from my understanding...all the current bounderies and nations and countries of Africa, are all a result of Colonialism...when Spain and the French and Germans and the British...and all the rest, went into Africa, and basically carved it up in ways that suited their political and financial interests...
And so the native people basically had to learn or mix their language with whatever Colonial power ruled them...
And as a result, I wonder if any of the original, non European dialects can still be found...or spoken?
I know when the original slaves were brought over to America...they were not allowed to speak their native language, nor were they allowed to speak or learn english...beyond basic commands...so none of that stuff ever got handed down...
Where as most other immigrants come to America with their whole culture and language intact...
The Africans were literaly stripped of their identity...I wonder how much was lost due to that...oh well...
Are you asking a question or trying to answer your own question?
Various tribal languages existed, I think in 6 main groups with regional variation. Some of it was part sign langauges, or drums, or whistels and clicks. Most of it did not have an alphabet and means for writing and thus was not able to be documented. I think that more than anything contributed to their demise. Europeans did not, except for explorers and missionaries, venture into the interior of Africa until the 20th century. African's learned and mixed in the language of the colonials for business and commerce purposes on their own. It's like Wales and Ireland and many other places with their own ancient languages, not just Africa. Some of the languages still exist and are countries official langauges (i.e. - Swazi in Swaziland).
The non-European languages of sub-saharan Africa are still widely spoken as the everyday languages. Traveling in Africa, you will find that English and French are, to this day, spoken as second languages by most Africans, who continue to speak their Bantu languages among themselves. English, French and Portuguese are understood by most people who live in an urban area or who have any education, but in the countryside, there are many people who do not know any European language at all.
There are hundreds of different African languages, most of them in the Bantu linguistic group, and as you correctly stated, the national boundaries were set in place by people who had no concern for linguistic affiinity of the people. So every large African country encompasses people who speak several, if not dozens of different languages. So, Engish, French and Portuguese have become "common languages" that most people know, in order to understand their fellow "countrymen" and for official business.
Americans seem to the the only people in the world who are unable to fathom the simple concept of bilingualism. Nearly all Africans can speak several languages. Worldwide, it is likely that more than half of all human beings can carry on a conversation in at least two languages. In China, everyone can speak Mandarin, but at least half speak a different language at home. In India, most people can speak English, but nobody speaks only English. In Europe, nearly everyone (except the French and British) can speak another European language. It is a humbling experience for an American with a PhD, who can speak only one language, to arrive in an the African interior and find simple villagers who can speak 3 or 4 languages fluently, but cannot read or write any language at all.
Demise was the OP's suggestion I believe, and I addressed that many are still in existence.
Your second link is specific to South Africa, which like areas of northern and coastal Africa may be an exception to the rule, having been explored and settled very early in the "colonialism of Africa", but again the OP I think was concerned about the interior of Africa. The fact remains, European's had difficulty in penetrating the "malaria belts" of the interior.
I was going to mention however the uniqueness of an actual European/African/Indian language developing in South Africa however, where their were white settlers since the 1600s, now in all intents and purposes - White Africans. I thought it was off topic but since you bring up South Africa - Afrikaans. A very interesting language, very gutteral sounding, I experienced in an South Africa trip. Most of it is Dutch in original, but its definetly merges in the original native language.
Are you asking a question or trying to answer your own question?
Various tribal languages existed, I think in 6 main groups with regional variation. Some of it was part sign langauges, or drums, or whistels and clicks. Most of it did not have an alphabet and means for writing and thus was not able to be documented. I think that more than anything contributed to their demise. Europeans did not, except for explorers and missionaries, venture into the interior of Africa until the 20th century. African's learned and mixed in the language of the colonials for business and commerce purposes on their own. It's like Wales and Ireland and many other places with their own ancient languages, not just Africa. Some of the languages still exist and are countries official langauges (i.e. - Swazi in Swaziland).
I find that very hard to believe...and very 'Euro' bias laden...'whistle and clicks'...please...give the human race more credit than that...
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtur88
The non-European languages of sub-saharan Africa are still widely spoken as the everyday languages. Traveling in Africa, you will find that English and French are, to this day, spoken as second languages by most Africans, who continue to speak their Bantu languages among themselves. English, French and Portuguese are understood by most people who live in an urban area or who have any education, but in the countryside, there are many people who do not know any European language at all.
There are hundreds of different African languages, most of them in the Bantu linguistic group, and as you correctly stated, the national boundaries were set in place by people who had no concern for linguistic affiinity of the people. So every large African country encompasses people who speak several, if not dozens of different languages. So, Engish, French and Portuguese have become "common languages" that most people know, in order to understand their fellow "countrymen" and for official business.
Americans seem to the the only people in the world who are unable to fathom the simple concept of bilingualism. Nearly all Africans can speak several languages. Worldwide, it is likely that more than half of all human beings can carry on a conversation in at least two languages. In China, everyone can speak Mandarin, but at least half speak a different language at home. In India, most people can speak English, but nobody speaks only English. In Europe, nearly everyone (except the French and British) can speak another European language. It is a humbling experience for an American with a PhD, who can speak only one language, to arrive in an the African interior and find simple villagers who can speak 3 or 4 languages fluently, but cannot read or write any language at all.
Thanks for sharing that...I will add it to my library of thought...
I find that very hard to believe...and very 'Euro' bias laden...'whistle and clicks'...please...give the human race more credit than that...
I don't think that post was meant to be condescending.
There really are languages that have click consonant sounds though, mainly in Southern Africa.
These sounds are just part of the phonology (sound system) of their language, just like what would be another consonant or vowel, like in English or any other language.
That really doesn't mean their languages are "inferior" or less complex in structure. No linguists really think that there are languages that are "more primitive" than others -- all have fully formed grammar rules.
Africa's pretty much one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world (another place is Papua New Guinea).
As mentioned earlier, a particularly large family of languages in Africa is the Bantu family, of which the most widely spoken and well known member is Swahili. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages
Some words from languages that belong to the family have been borrowed into English, such as conga and safari.
Last edited by Stumbler.; 11-25-2010 at 03:58 PM..
I've always, well more like recently, begin wondering what languages were spoken by the various peoples of Africa, before the influence of Colonialism...and or excluding the whole Egyptian culture...
I'm talken deep down, in the middle of Africa type languages...
I mean from my understanding...all the current bounderies and nations and countries of Africa, are all a result of Colonialism...when Spain and the French and Germans and the British...and all the rest, went into Africa, and basically carved it up in ways that suited their political and financial interests...
And so the native people basically had to learn or mix their language with whatever Colonial power ruled them...
And as a result, I wonder if any of the original, non European dialects can still be found...or spoken?
I know when the original slaves were brought over to America...they were not allowed to speak their native language, nor were they allowed to speak or learn english...beyond basic commands...so none of that stuff ever got handed down...
Where as most other immigrants come to America with their whole culture and language intact...
The Africans were literaly stripped of their identity...I wonder how much was lost due to that...oh well...
I worked with a Kenyan woman. She spoke English and Swahili, which are her country's official languages, along with her tribal language. (Luo).
There are MANY original languages still spoken in Africa.
I find that very hard to believe...and very 'Euro' bias laden...'whistle and clicks'...please...give the human race more credit than that...
Well, it is true. Actually I see your answer, your failure to concieve of different types of languages than verbalized consanents and vowels, and your perception that all African languages were superceded by Euro languages, as Euro based in thought.
You should get out more, I was in the continent of Africa a few weeks ago by the way (although the only whistles and clicks I heard were from vehicles and livestock).
You should get out more, I was in the continent of Africa a few weeks ago by the way (although the only whistles and clicks I heard were from vehicles and livestock).
Next time you should save your money and just stay at home watching YouTube, you would apparently learn more.
This is just a small, minute fraction of the 2,000 indigenous languages spoken in Africa today.
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