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Glite Dictionary
Niger-Kordofanian

Niger-Kordofanian

9.9
A group of languages spoken across much of Africa south of the Sahara
  • noun
  • /ˈnaɪdʒər kɔːrdəˈfænɪən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : niger-kordofaniano
  • Research into Niger-Kordofanian languages has greatly expanded our understanding of African linguistics.

Examples

  • The Niger-Kordofanian languages are spoken across a vast region of sub-Saharan Africa.

  • The Niger-Kordofanian family includes many languages spoken in Africa.

  • Many linguists consider Swahili part of the Niger-Kordofanian language family.

  • Did you know that Niger-Kordofanian languages are primarily tonal?

  • The Niger-Kordofanian languages are spoken by millions of people in West and Central Africa.

  • Researchers study the Niger-Kordofanian family to understand the linguistic diversity of sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Many tonal languages belong to the Niger-Kordofanian family, which influences their unique phonetic characteristics.

Synonyms

Niger-Kordofanian language
vsNiger-Kordofanian
  • Archaic
9.8

A family of languages spoken in parts of Africa south of the Sahara, including Swahili and Fula

is the same family but notes some major languages are not tonal
Niger-Congo
vsNiger-Kordofanian
  • Specialized
8.2

A large family of languages spoken across much of Africa south of the Sahara, like Swahili and Yoruba

covers most languages south of the Sahara and often has tonal ones

Surface Forms

Niger-Kordofanian singular
Niger-Kordofanian languages plural

Morphology

Niger-Kordofanian = Niger + Kordofanian (semi-transparent) = Niger + Kordofan + ian

The compound joins two geographic names (one of which is formed with the productive suffix '-ian'), so the structure is clear, but the term is a technical linguistic label that a typical B1 learner may not infer as 'a family of languages'.

Etymology

Niger-Kordofanian comes from two place names: Niger, the great West African 'river' and country, and Kordofan, a 'region' in central Sudan. It was used to name a group of languages spoken across those and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, so the name reminds us where these languages come from.