Southern Bantu languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern Bantu |
|
|---|---|
| Bantu zone S | |
| Geographic distribution: |
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique |
| Linguistic classification: | Niger–Congo
|
| Subdivisions: |
Chopi
Shona
Sotho-Tswana
Tswa-Ronga
|
The Southern Bantu languages are a group of languages spoken in parts of southern Africa. You might also hear them called Bantu zone S. These languages belong to the larger Bantu language family.
This group includes many important languages spoken in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. You can also find some of these languages in southern Mozambique. A person named Malcolm Guthrie first described this group in 1948. He grouped them based on where they were spoken. However, experts today also agree that these languages are connected by how they sound and are structured.
What Are Southern Bantu Languages?
The Southern Bantu languages are part of an even bigger language group called the Niger-Congo language superfamily. Think of it like a giant family tree for languages! This means they share some common roots and features.
These languages are spoken by millions of people every day. They are used in homes, schools, and businesses across the region. Learning about them helps us understand the rich history and culture of southern Africa.
Main Language Groups
The Southern Bantu language group is made up of six main sub-groups. Each sub-group contains several related languages. Here are the main ones:
These groups show how different languages can still be connected. They are like cousins in a big language family.
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