{"id":5300,"date":"2009-11-10T18:51:08","date_gmt":"2009-11-10T17:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/?page_id=5300"},"modified":"2011-09-05T11:20:34","modified_gmt":"2011-09-05T09:20:34","slug":"afro-asiatic-languages","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/en\/afro-asiatic-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"Afro-Asiatic Languages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Information concerning Afro-Asiatic Languages<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Where are Afro-Asiatic languages spoken?<\/h5>\n

These languages are spoken in a vast trans-continental geographical area.<\/p>\n

In Africa, they are spoken across the North of the continent, from Ethiopia in the East to Mauritania in the West. They can also be found in all of the Near East, and even within the European Community, Maltese being a variant of Arabic, which belongs to this group.<\/p>\n

Map of Afro-Asiatic languages on the website of the Universit\u00e9 Laval:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.tlfq.ulaval.ca\/axl\/monde\/images\/Afro-Asiatic2.gif<\/a><\/p>\n

Website of the Paris Anthropology Society, devoted to the birthplace of Afro-Asiatic languages: http:\/\/bmsap.revues.org\/document564.html#tocto2<\/a><\/p>\n

Total number of speakers (estimates)<\/h5>\n

Approximately 350 000 000 according to SIL.<\/p>\n

Classification<\/h5>\n

According to SIL, there are 375 languages in the Afro-Asian group.<\/p>\n

Afro- Asiatic Class Simpl EN<\/p>\n

Omotic Languages<\/span><\/p>\n

South Omotic Languages<\/p>\n

Hammer-Banna, Aari, Dime, Karo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mao Languages<\/p>\n

Bambassi, Ganza, Hozo, Seze.<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Omotic Languages<\/span><\/p>\n

Dizoid Languages<\/p>\n

Dizi, Nayi, Sheko<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ta-Ne Languages<\/p>\n

Anfillo, Borna, Kafa (ou Kefa), Shekkacho, Yemsa, Bench, Chara, Maale, Basketo, Wolaytta (ou Ometo, Oyda (ou Oyta, Dorze, Melo (ou Malo), Gamo-Gofa-Dawro, Kachama-Ganjule, Koorete, Zaysete.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chadic Languages<\/span><\/p>\n

West-Chadic Languages<\/p>\n

West-Chadic A<\/p>\n

Gwandara, Hausa, Beele, Bole, Deno, Galambu, Gera, Geruma, Giiwo, Kholok, Kubi, Maaka, Ngamo, Nyam, Karekare, Bure, Dera, Kushi, Kutto, Kwaami, Pero, Piya-Kwonci, Tangale, Cakfem-Mushere, Jorto, Kofyar, Miship, Mwaghavul, Ngas, Goemai, Koenoem, Montol , Pyapun, Tal, Iwom (ou Gerka), Fyer, Tambas, Duhwa, Kulere, Mundat, Ron, Sha, Daza.<\/strong><\/p>\n

West Chadic B<\/p>\n

Bade, Ngizim, Teshenawa, Duwai, Auyokawa, Ajawa, Ciwogai, Diri, Kariya, Mburku, Miya, Pa\u2019a, Siri , Warji , Zumbun, Boghom , Kir-Balar, Mangas, Guruntum-Mbaaru, Ju , Tala, Zangwal, Geji, Polci, Saya, Zari, Zeem, Jimi, Dass,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chadic isolate :<\/p>\n

Luri<\/strong><\/p>\n

Central Chadic Languages ou Biu-Mandara<\/p>\n

Biu-Mandara A<\/p>\n

Jara, Tera, Boga, Ga\u2019anda, Hwana, Bura-Pabir, Cibak, Kofa, Putai, Huba, Marghi Central, Marghi South, Nggwahyi, Bana, Hay, Kamwe, Psikye, Hdi, Lamang, Vemgo-Mabas, Cineni, Dghwede\u00b8 Glavda, Guduf-Gava, Gvoko, Wandala (ou Mandara), Parkwa (ou Podoko), Baldemu, Cuvok, Dugwor, North Giziga, South Giziga, Mada, Mafa, Matal, Mbuko, Mefele, Merey, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur, Moloko, Muyang, Vame, Wuzlam, Zulgo-Gemzek, Sukur, Buwal, Daba, Gavar, Mazagway, Mbedam, Mina, Bacama, Bata, Fali, Gude, Gudu, Holma, Jimi, Ngwaba, Nzanyi, Sharwa, Tsuvan, Zizilivakan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biu-Mandara B<\/p>\n

Afade, Malgbe, Maslam, Mpade, Lagwan, Mser, Jina, Majera, \tBuduma, Jilbe, Mbara, Musgu, Muskum, Gidar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

East Chadic Languages<\/p>\n

East Chadic A<\/p>\n

Mire, Ndam, Somrai, Tumak, Boor, Gadang, Miltu, Sarua, Buso, Kimr\u00e9, Lele, Nancere, Gabri, Kabalai, Tobanga, Kera, Kwang<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

East Chadic B<\/p>\n

Bidiyo, Dangal\u00e9at, Jonkor Bourmataguil, Mabire, Mawa, Migaama, Mogum, Ubi, Birgit, Kajakse, Masmaje, Mubi, Toram, Zirenkel, Kujarg\u00e9, Mukulu, Barein, Saba, Sokoro, Tamki,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Masa Languages<\/p>\n

Herd\u00e9, Marba, , Masana, Mesme, Musey, Ngete, P\u00e9v\u00e9, Zumaya<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cushitic languages<\/span><\/p>\n

Cushitic isoalate:<\/p>\n

Beja<\/strong><\/p>\n

Central Cushitic ou Agaw<\/p>\n

Xamtanga, Bilen, Awngi, Qimant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Highland East Cushitic<\/p>\n

Alaba-K\u2019abeena, Burji, Gedeo, Hadiyya, Kambaata, Libido, Sidamo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dullay<\/p>\n

Bussa, Gawwada, Tsamai<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yaaku<\/p>\n

Yaaku<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lowland East Cushitic<\/p>\n

Afar, Saho, Oromo, Aweer, Rendille, Dabarre, Garre, Jiiddu, Maay, Somali, Tunni, Baiso, Arbore, Baiso, Daasanach, El Molo, Dirasha, Konso, Boon, Yaaku, Bedawiyet<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Cushitic<\/p>\n

Aas\u00e1x, Alagwa, Burunge, Dahalo, Gorowa, Iraqw, Kw\u2019adza<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tamazight (Berber languages)
\n<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Berber isolates:<\/p>\n

Guanche* (extinct), Zenaga<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eastern Berber Languages<\/p>\n

Siwa, Awjila, Sawknah<\/strong><\/p>\n

Northern Berber Languages<\/p>\n

Zenati Languages<\/p>\n

Ghadam\u00e8s, Sened, Nafusi, Ghomara, Tagargrent, Temacine Tamazight, Taznatit, Tumzabt, Srair Senhaja, Tarifit, Tachawit, Tidikelt Tamazight, Kabyle, Chenoua.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atlas Languages<\/p>\n

Judeo-Berber, Tachelhit, Central Atlas Tamazight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tamasheq Languages<\/p>\n

Tahaggart Tamahaq, Tawallammat Tamajaq, Tayart Tamajeq, Tamasheq<\/strong><\/p>\n

Semitic Languages<\/span><\/p>\n

East Semitic Languages (extinct)<\/p>\n

West Semitic Languages<\/p>\n

North West Semitic<\/p>\n

Amorite*(extinct), Ugaritic*(extinct), Hebrew, Ammonite* (extinct), Moabite*(extinct), Edomite*(extinct), Phoenician*(extinct)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aramaic Languages<\/a><\/p>\n

Ma\u2019loula, Sureth<\/a> <\/strong>(or Assyrian Neo-Aramaic<\/strong>), Turoyo<\/strong><\/a>, Neo-Mandaic <\/strong><\/a>(or Ratna<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Arabic<\/p>\n

Standard Arabic, Arabic (dialectal continuum), Maltese<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

South-Semitic Languages<\/p>\n

Western South Semitic<\/p>\n

Old South Arabian (extinct), Geez, Tigr\u00e9, Tigrigna, Dahlik, \tGafat, Kistane, Inor, Mesmes, Mesqan, Sebat Bet Gurage, Amharic, Argobba, Harari, Silt\u2019e, Wolane, Zay.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eastern South Semitic<\/p>\n

Bathari, Harsusi, Hoby\u00f3t, Mehri, Shehri, Soqotri<\/strong><\/p>\n

Comments on the classification of Afro-Asiatic languages:<\/h5>\n

We have based our classification on the work of Bender (2000).<\/p>\n

Classification in 6 branches of the Afroasiatic family<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally, scientists consider that there are 6 branches in the group of Afro-Asian languages: Omotic languages, Chadic languages, Cushitic languages, Berber languages, Semitic languages and Egyptian languages.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, all Egyptian languages being extinct, we have not taken into consideration this branch, even if the Coptic language, which belongs to it, is sometimes still used during religious ceremonies (just as Latin in Indo-European languages).<\/p>\n

It should be noted, however, that classifications may differ depending on the sources: certain linguists (Newmann and Dakonoff) do not include Omotic languages in the Afro-Asiatic group, for example.<\/p>\n

Semitic Languages<\/span><\/p>\n

The issue of Arabic languages or dialects is a complex one. Generally, linguists acknowledge a dialectical continuum, spoken by 280 000 000 people, on a very large geographical area which goes from North-West Africa to the Middle East. The geographically most distant variants are only rarely mutually intelligible, and certain classifications consider they are independent languages.<\/p>\n

We have decided to retain \u201cliterary\u201d Arabic (which is generally the common standardised version and the official language of Arabic-speaking languages) and dialectical Arabic (as a group of dialects). The case of Maltese is more complex, official language, sometimes considered as a distant Arabic dialect, sometimes argued to be an Arabic based Creole, we classified it apart.<\/p>\n

Modern Hebrew is a standardised form of a Hebrew group comprising a dozen of variants, sometimes considered as independent languages.<\/p>\n

Dahlik is an only recently discovered and classified language within the Ethiopian languages (sub-group of Southern Semitic languages).<\/p>\n

http:\/\/llacan.vjf.cnrs.fr\/fichiers\/Senelle\/Dahalik_shaebia05.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Which Afro-Asiatic languages are endangered?<\/h5>\n

It is likely that a large number of these languages are endangered, but we do not have, for now, precise estimates concerning the vitality of these languages. Many languages from this group are extinct: it is the case of all Egyptian languages and the Semitic languages of the East.<\/p>\n

This section will be developed subsequently.<\/p>\n

Ethnographic elements<\/span><\/p>\n

This section will be developed subsequently.<\/p>\n

Linguistic details<\/span><\/p>\n

This section will be developed subsequently.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h5>\n

African Languages<\/em> – An Introduction<\/em>, Bernd Heine and Derek Nurse (eds), Cambridge University Press (2000)<\/p>\n

Bender, M. Lionel. 2000. Comparative Morphology of the Omotic Languages<\/em>. Munich: LINCOM. Classification copied in Raymond G. Gordon, Jr, ed. 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World<\/em>. 15th edition. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.<\/p>\n

Hayward, Richard J. 2003. Omotic: the “empty quarter” of Afroasiatic linguistics. In Research in Afroasiatic <\/em>Grammar II: selected papers from the fifth conference on Afroasiatic language<\/em>s, Paris 2000, Jacqueline Lecarme (ed.) pp. 241-261. Amsterdam: John Benjamins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Information concerning Afro-Asiatic Languages Where are Afro-Asiatic languages spoken? These languages are spoken in a vast trans-continental geographical area. In Africa, they are spoken across the North of the continent, from Ethiopia in the East to Mauritania in the West. They can also be found in all of the Near East, and even within the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5300","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAfro-Asiatic Languages - Sorosoro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/en\/afro-asiatic-languages\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Afro-Asiatic Languages - Sorosoro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Information concerning Afro-Asiatic Languages Where are Afro-Asiatic languages spoken? These languages are spoken in a vast trans-continental geographical area. 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These languages are spoken in a vast trans-continental geographical area. In Africa, they are spoken across the North of the continent, from Ethiopia in the East to Mauritania in the West. 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