Aims

The aim of this general introductory course is to familiarize the students with the essential structures and functioning of African languages, particularly the languages from the Bantu family.

Main themes

The first part of the course presents a brief history of African linguistics, including the distribution of languages on the African continent. The second, and more important part, is devoted exclusively to the Bantu linguistic family, which covers around three fourths of the territory of sub-Saharan Africa. Following an overview of Bantu phonology and morphology, we shall concentrate on one linguistic question, chosen from the list that follows, to study in depth each year: phonetic elements; morpho-phonology; lexical morphology; verbal morphology; invariable forms.
Method: although relying on current linguistic theories to describe the internal functioning of languages, the course does not overlook the social and human aspects of the language. The analysis of linguistic notions is addressed in the context of concrete speech acts which reveal the relationship speakers establish between their language and the structuring of their universe. The students are required to conduct a small linguistic survey (individually or in a group) with people who speak a Bantu language. The information gathered will be analyzed during the course.

Content and teaching methods

General introduction to African linguistics and more specifically to the languages of the Bantu family. Content: a first introductory part presenting a historical outline of African linguistics, including the distribution of languages across the African continent, and a second, more important part dealing only with the Bantu linguistic family, which covers about three quarters of Black Africa. After presenting an outline of Bantu phonology and morphology, a specific linguistic question is studied in depth each year. Students are required to carry out a linguistic inquiry (individually or in groups) on Bantu language speakers. The collected data will be analysed during the course. Course Material: course notes, Bantu texts, recordings…

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