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Guthrie classification of Bantu languages

Guthrie classification of Bantu languages is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Guthrie classification of Bantu languages rather than just read about it. In short: The 250 or so "Narrow Bantu languages" are conventionally divided up into geographic zones first proposed by Malcolm Guthrie (1967–1971). These were assigned letters A–S and divided into decades (groups A10, A20, etc.); individual languages were assigned unit numbers (A11, A12, etc.), and dialects further subdivided (A11a, A11b, etc.).

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Reference excerpt

The 250 or so "Narrow Bantu languages" are conventionally divided up into geographic zones first proposed by Malcolm Guthrie (1967–1971). These were assigned letters A–S and divided into decades (groups A10, A20, etc.); individual languages were assigned unit numbers (A11, A12, etc.), and dialects further subdivided (A11a, A11b, etc.). This coding system has become the standard for identifying Bantu languages; it was a practical way to distinguish many ambiguously named languages before the introduction of ISO 639-3 coding, and it continues to be widely used. Only Guthrie's Zone S is (sometimes) considered to be a genealogical group. Since Guthrie's time a Zone J (made of languages formerly classified in groups D and E) has been set up as another possible genealogical group bordering the Great Lakes. The list is first summarized, with links to articles on accepted groups of Bantu languages (bold decade headings). Following that is the complete 1948 list, as updated by Guthrie in 1971 and by J. F. Maho in 2009.

Summary The list below reflects Guthrie as updated by Maho (2009). Not included in detail are the Northeast Bantu languages characterized by Dahl's Law, which is thought to be a genealogical group, cuts across the Guthrie system, and is covered at Northeast Bantu. Other groups with dedicated articles, such as Southern Bantu (Zone S) are also only summarized here, so that the initial listing is only a summary and an index for other articles. Ethnologue made multiple changes to Guthrie in an attempt to make the classification more historically accurate. However, the changes are inconsistent, and Ethnologue has not been followed here, though it is publicly available online. Thus a code may mean different things depending on whether Guthrie or SIL is being followed. (See link below for the SIL code assignments.) The updates in Maho (2009), on the other hand, are designed to be compatible with the original values of the codes. Bantu has long been divided into Northwest Bantu (Forest Bantu) and Central Bantu (Savanna Bantu) branches based upon tone patterns, but there is little agreement as to which Guthrie zones (or which parts of zones) should be in either, the dichotomy is dubious, and they have not been followed here. Accepted genealogical groups within the Guthrie zones are boldfaced.

Zone A S Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, N Gabon

A10 Lundu–Balong : Oroko (likely one of the Sawabantu languages); the other languages apart from A15 Manenguba (that is, Bonkeng, Nkongho, Bafaw-Balong) may be Sawabantu as well. A15 Manenguba (Ngoe) languages A20–30 Sawabantu languages; Bube (in Mbam?) A40a (reduced) Basaa languages A50 Bafia languages A60+40b Mbam languages (Jarawan added after Guthrie) A70 Beti language A80–90 Makaa–Njem languages Zone A is sometimes considered Forest Bantu. Guthrie's A60 and part of his A40 have been removed to the Southern Bantoid Mbam languages. Sawabantu may include some of the A10 languages apart from Manenguba, whereas Bube may belong in Mbam. Southern Bantoid Jarawan was assigned to Zone A by Gerhardt (1982) and Blench (ms 2006, 2011), specifically to A60, within Mbam. According to several scholars, including Blench, there can be no coherent concept of Bantu as long as many of the Zone A and perhaps Zone B languages are included.

Zone B S Gabon, W Congo, W DR-Congo

B20 Kele languages (?Seki) B10–30 Tsogo languages (?Myene) B40 (with some H10) Sira languages B50 Nzebi languages B60 Mbete languages B70 (with some B80) Teke languages B80 (reduced) Boma–Dzing languages (Tsong/Songo?) Zone B is sometimes considered Forest Bantu. B10–30 may belong together as Kele–Tsogo, B40 with Kongo–Yaka (H), and B50–70 with H24 Songo as Teke–Mbede.

Zone C NW DR-Congo, N Congo

C10 (with some C30) Ngondi–Ngiri languages C20 Mboshi languages C30 (with Mongo, etc) Bangi–Ntomba languages (Lingala et al.) C37+41 Buja–Ngombe languages C42 Bwela C40a Bati–Angba languages (Bwa) C50–60 Soko languages C70 Tetela languages C80 Bushoong languages Zone C is sometimes considered Forest Bantu, sometimes Savanna Bantu. There are proposals for three larger clades, Mboshi–Buja covering C10–20 and C37+41, and Bangi–Tetela covering C30 with C50–80 (Motingea 1996), and C40a together with D20–30 in Boan.

Zone D NE DR-Congo

D10 Mbole–Enya languages (?Lengola) D20a Lega–Binja languages D20–30 Komo–Bira languages, (with C40a) Boan D28 Holoholo (perhaps in NE Bantu) D30 (unclassified): Guru (Boguru), Ngbinda, Kare (Kari), Nyanga-li (Gbati-ri) D33 Nyali languages (Beeke? Ngbee?, +Bodo?) D43–55 Nyanga–Buyi languages D54 Bembe (with Lega?) D10, D30, and some of D20 and D40 are sometimes considered Forest Bantu, the others Savanna Bantu. Most of D40–60 has been moved to Great Lakes Bantu languages. Lengola, Bodo, and Nyali may belong together as Lebonya, and Beeke in Boan.

Zone E Kenya, apart from Swahili The languages of Zone E have been reassigned: E10–E40 to Great Lakes Bantu languages; E50 Kikuyu–Kamba (Central Kenya Bantu) and E60 Chaga–Taita to Northeast Bantu; E70 Nyika to Northeast Bantu, mostly in Sabaki.

Zone F W & C Tanzania.

F10 Tongwe-Bende F30 (reduced) Mbugwe–Rangi languages ?Isanzu Much of F20 and F30, including the major language Sukuma, have been reclassified as Northeast Bantu, with Bungu to Rukwa and Sumbwa as Great Lakes. Mbugwe–Rangi, however, form a valid node by themselves. Isanzu is sometimes classified as F30, as a variety of Nilamba, and sometimes thought to be a remnant of the Bantu languages spoken in the area before F-zone languages arrived.

Zone G E Tanzania, Comoros

G50 (with Mbunga) Kilombero The languages of Zone G have been reclassified, G60 Bene–Kinga to Northeast Bantu, and the other branches more specifically to Northeast Coast Bantu languages.

Zone H NW Angola, W Congo

H10 (reduced) Kongo languages H20 Kimbundu languages (?Songo) H30–40 (with Yanzi) Yaka languages H10 and H40 are sometimes considered Forest Bantu, the others Savanna Bantu. H10 Kunyi, Suundi, and Vili have been split between B40 and L10. H40 is split between H30 and L10. Kongo–Yaka may form a family, perhaps with B40 Sira.

Zone J Uganda, Rwanda–Burundi, near lakes Kivu & Victoria

J Great Lakes (part of Northeast Bantu)

Zone K E Angola, W Zambia

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Guthrie classification of Bantu languages

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Guthrie classification of Bantu languages claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Guthrie classification of Bantu languages before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Guthrie classification of Bantu languages ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Guthrie classification of Bantu languages

In research: Guthrie classification of Bantu languages appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Guthrie classification of Bantu languages in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Guthrie classification of Bantu languages is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Bantu languages, Classification of African languages, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Guthrie classification of Bantu languages outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Guthrie classification of Bantu languages in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Guthrie classification of Bantu languages in simple terms?

Why does Guthrie classification of Bantu languages matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Guthrie classification of Bantu languages?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Guthrie classification of Bantu languages.