African Languages - Language Groups

Language Groups

Most languages spoken in Africa belong to one of three large language families: Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger–Congo. Another hundred belong to small families such as Ubangian and the various families called Khoisan, or the Indo-European and Austronesian language families which originated outside Africa; the presence of the latter two dates to 2,600 and 1,000 years ago, respectively. In addition, African languages include several unclassified languages and sign languages.

Read more about this topic:  African Languages

Famous quotes containing the words language and/or groups:

    When you’re lying awake with a dismal headache, and repose is
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    I conceive you may use any language you choose to indulge in without impropriety;
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    Under weak government, in a wide, thinly populated country, in the struggle against the raw natural environment and with the free play of economic forces, unified social groups become the transmitters of culture.
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