A thorough introduction to African languages and linguistics, covering typology, structure and sociolinguistics. The twelve chapters are written by a team of eminent Africanists. Notes, refs, index, ix, 396pp, UK CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

This diverse collection of essays embraces the main discourses in the field of African languages and linguistics. Argues for the absolute necessity of developing African languages as a condition of socio-economic development. The work further advocates the involvement of all sectors of society in language development efforts, language identification, and the imperative of validating African languages as equal to the colonial languages. Focus countries include: Chad, Nigeria, Gabon and Cameron. 237pp, SENEGAL. CODESRIA.

One of the first books to comprehensively engage with sociolinguistic issues from a uniquely African perspective. Looks at the wealth of linguistic diversity across the continent and the specific problems facing African societies and governments such language attrition and language death. A very interesting volume for the both the general reader and the student. Covers the general topics of postgraduate and undergraduate linguistic courses. Index, app, maps, tables, xiv, 334pp, SOUTH AFRICA. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 0195716817

An in depth introduction to the 800 Austronesian languages spoken in the area from Madagascar to Eastern Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines describing size and social make up of the speech communities and their typological profiles. BNS, 752pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE, 0700712860

Typically lateral explorations of African languages from the intrepid linguist. Index, 56pp, UK. JOSEPH BIDDULPH, 1897999305

New in paperback. This reference work is the first comprehensive overview of Bantu languages, providing a set of descriptive and typological statements which are theoretically informed, with a detailed account of member languages. Also includes information on phonology, morphology, sytax, lexis, semantics, dialectology and sociolinguistics. Index, bib, refs, maps, xvii, 708pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE.

Examines the range of similarity and difference between Black speech communities in Africa and the diaspora and the impact of imperialism and enslavement on language. Written by Black scholars often in collaboration with local communities, it looks to decolonise the study of Black language and languages. Foreword by Ngugi wa Thiong'o. Index, refs, tables, figs, notes, xii, 228pp, UK. ROUTLEDGE.

Eighteen revised papers first presented at the 31st Annual Conference on African Linguistics, Boston University, 2000. Languages discussed include Kwa, Edo, Yoruba, Bukusu, Gikuyu, Dagbani, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Anyi, Shona, Zulu and Luo. Includes an essay by Ngugi wa Thiong'o entitled After Asmara: The Future of Literature and Scholarship in Africa. Refs, diags, 216pp, USA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS, 1592212018

Argues that the contrast between language and social institutions is most obvious in the colonial and post-colonial world in Africa, characterized as it was by the import of European institutions which were of a qualitatively new nature and which led to the establishment of a hierarchy of African languages in Africa. This study focuses on the effects of the globalisation processes on the vitality of languages in two West African cities, Maiduguri in Nigeria and Banfora in Burkina Faso. 384pp, GERMANY. LIT VERLAG.

Aims at providing both a scholarly and an accessible account of the nature and extent of the problem of language decline and extinction in Africa. Traces the main causes and circumstances of language endangerment, the processes and extent of language shift and extinction, and the consequences of language loss to the continent's rich linguistic and cultural heritage. Index, bib, maps, tables, 174pp, UK. MULTILINGUAL MATTERS.

Fascinating reading for anyone interested in languages and their origins. 600 languages are identified and 200 are individually described with sample passages and English translations. Also includes a country by country survey and a description of the major language families. Index, tables, 384pp, x, UK. ROUTLEDGE, 0415250048

French edition. A very thorough introduction to African languages and linguistics, covering typology, structure and sociolinguistics. Text in French. BNS, notes, refs, index, 472pp, FRANCE. KARTHALA.

More than forty years ago it was demonstrated that the African continent can be divided into four distinct language families. Research on African languages has accordingly been preoccu-pied with reconstructing and understanding similarities across these families. This has meant that an interest in other kinds of linguistic relationship, such as whether structural similarities and dissimilarities among African languages are the result of contact between these languages, has never been the subject of major research. This book shows that such similarities across African languages are more common than is widely believed. It provides a broad perspective on Africa as a linguistic area, as well as an analysis of specific linguistic regions.Index, bib, notes, maps, 371pp, UK. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

This volume represents a selection of 25 peer reviewed papers from the 33rd Annual Conference on African Linguistics held in March 2002 at Ohio University in Athens. The papers cover language acquisition, syntax, phonetics, phonology, morphology, historical linguistics, as well as language use and function in Africa making proposals concerning the proper analysis and representation of linguistic information. Refs, maps, diags, table, x, 335pp, USA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS, 1592211550

Overview of developments within the field of multilingualism as well as essays on machine translation, computer aided translation, electronic language management, localisation, and text mining and local interfaces. Tables, charts, 184pp, SOUTH AFRICA. J.L. VAN SCHAIK.

Follow-up study to his 2002 TOWARDS A LINGUISTIC HISTORY OF AFRICA. In dictionary format across two slim volumes. 110pp, UK. JOSEPH BIDDULPH.

Examines ebonics and African-American speech patterns for remnants of African Languages. Index, bib, notes, refs, b/w photographs, 144pp, UK. KARNAK HOUSE.

Clear and practical guide to the sounds and sound systems of African languages by one the pioneers of their serious, scientific study. Phonetic summaries are included on Ewe, Yoruba, Fante, Bamabara, Ganda, Zulu, Nuer and Dinka. Well illustrated with diagrams and includes 24 pages of appendices on the practical orthography of African languages. First printed in 1933. Index, diags, figs, tables, xxxvii, 227pp, UK. KEGAN PAUL INTERNATIONAL.

1990 1933 0710302959 Paperback

Examines the link between language and identity within a socio-linguistic framework at the border between Nigeria and Benin. Index, bib, 292pp, USA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS

Analysis of modernisation informed by the place of language in education, health, the economy and governance in the African context. It paints a wide canvas of Africa in its different facets, and shows how language is used as an instrument to deny access to socio-economic and political emancipation. Bib, notes, 227pp, UK. MULTILINGUAL MATTERS.

Bari is a member of a larger language family known as Nilotic spoken in six African countries, namely: the Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Basing his studies on recorded oral traditions and with the help of historical comparative techniques, this study attempts to define who the Bari are and to trace their ancestry and their migratory routes using oral tradition, language, religion, values, customs and institutions. 184pp, KENYA. NAIROBI UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Offers 21 articles dealing with diverse topics in this domain of African comparative linguistics research. It comprises a representative selection of present-day Niger-Congo research, with a special focus on Bantu and Mande. The contributions are subdivided in 7 thematic chapters: 'Niger-Congo', 'Mande', 'Bantu: classification', 'Bantu: Vocabulary', 'Bantu: Phonology', 'Bantu: Morphology', and 'Bantu: Syntax'. BNS, bib, 450pp, BELGIUM. ROYAL MUSEUM FOR CENTRAL AFRICA.

The twenty-one papers that make up this volume reflect the broad perspective of African linguistic typology studies today. Where previous volumes would present language material from a very restricted area and perspective, the present contributions reflect the global interest and orientation of current African linguistic studies. The studies are nearly all implicational in nature. Based upon a detailed survey of a particular linguistic phenomenon in a given language or language area conclusions are drawn about the general nature about this phenomenon in the languages of Africa and beyond. Languages under discussion include: Somali, Berber, Ndonga, Kwnayama, Kwangali, Hausa and Emai. Indexes, 426pp, NETHERLANDS. JOHN BENJAMINS PUBLISHING CO.

A valuable collection of articles spanning a range of topics in the field of empirical and theoretical linguistics in Africa. Refs, tables, 420pp, USA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS, 0865434638

1995 Paperback

Fourteen essays that offer a comprehensive analysis of the history, fate and promise of African languages. Arguments centre around the need to express African experiences in African languages and the political implications of this. Index, refs, 205pp, ERITREA. AFRICA WORLD PRESS, 0865439966

2002 Paperback