Written by an international team of experts, this comprehensive volume presents grammatical analyses of individual Bantu languages, comparative studies of their main phonetic, phonological and grammatical characteristics and overview chapters on their history and classification. It is estimated that some 300 to 350 million people, or one in three Africans, are Bantu speakers. Van de Velde and Bostoen bring together their linguistic expertise to produce a volume that builds on Nurse and Philippson’s first edition. The Bantu Languages, 2nd edition is divided into two parts; Part 1 contains 11 comparative chapters, and Part 2 provides grammar sketches of 12 individual Bantu languages, some of which were previously undescribed. The grammar sketches follow a general template that allows for easy comparison. Thoroughly revised and updated to include more language descriptions and the latest comparative insights. New to this edition: • new chapters on syntax, tone, reconstruction and language contact • 12 new sketch grammars • thoroughly updated chapters on phonetics, aspect-tense-mood and classification • exhaustive catalogue of known languages with essential references This unique resource remains the ideal reference for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of Bantu linguistics and languages. It will be of interest to researchers and anyone with an interest in historical linguistics, linguistic typology and grammatical analysis.

Excerpt from A Handbook of the Ila Language (Commonly Called the Seshukulumbwe): Spoken in North-Western Rhodesia, South-Central Africa; Comprising Grammar, Exercises, Specimens of Ila Tales, and Vocabularies ON my arrival at N anzela in july, 1902, I found it necessary to commence at the very beginning in learning the language, for nothing had as yet been done to reduce it to a written form. I was fortunate in having some knowledge of the Suto language and in securing as my first assistant a young man who knew considerable Suto as well as Ila. With his help I began at once to compile a vocabulary and to make grammatical notes. After a time I found that this man used a dialect which was more like Tonga than real Ila; so I procured the assistance of another young man, who was a true Mwila, and who had lived for some time at the mission. He has continued to be my assistant since then, and his help has been invaluable. The extensive knowledge he has displayed of his own language, and especially the copious ness of his vocabulary, have been a constant source of wonder and pleasure to me. From the beginning I had the intention of compiling such a Handbook as this; and I now submit the result of my labours to my fellow pioneers in N orth-western Rhodesia, trusting that they may find it a help in learning the language. I do not pretend to have mastered every detail of the language but as it is certain that I shall have to make the same remark if I continue my studies for many years, I do not think that is a reason for delaying the publication of the book. Whatever has been omitted through' ignorance or inadvertence, the main outlines of the language will, I believe, be found correctly delineated. And here I should like to utter a word of caution. If any one using this book finds that some expression he has caught from a native is different in sound or form from what he reads here, I would ask him not to hastily conclude that I am wrong. In different parts of the country different words are used, and the same words may occur in slightly different forms; indeed one man will at one time pronounce a word in a certain way and at. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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