Southern Bantu languages

Southern Bantu
siNtu
Geographic
distribution
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Southern Bantu[1]
Language codes
Glottologsout3387

The Southern Bantu or siNtu languages are a large group of Bantu languages spoken in the region of southern Africa. They are nearly synonymous with Guthrie's Bantu zone S.

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.[2]

Languages

Language groups are followed by their code in the Guthrie classification.

References

  1. ↑ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective.
  2. ↑ Divergence and contact in Southern Bantu language and population history: A new phylogeny in cross-disciplinary perspective. p. 44.