Southern Bantu languages

Southern Bantu
siNtu
Geographic
distribution
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Southern Bantu
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.

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.