The Small Bang
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Abbie Hantgan Sonko
Abstract
Language isolates, often viewed as remnants of past linguistic diversity, are predominantly spoken at the edges of dominant linguistic areas. This study explores the origins of the Bangime isolate and its Bangande speakers. By correlating loan words associated with agriculture with interdisciplinary data, the paper focuses on West African crops like millet and sorghum to suggest a Bangande migration timeline. This research contributes to a study on the origins of loan words for plants and animals linked to their domestication in West Africa. Preliminary results indicate a link between early Bangime speakers and Mande communities, especially the Soninke-Bozo. It is yet to be determined if the Bangande originally farmed in their present territories or elsewhere.
Abstract
Language isolates, often viewed as remnants of past linguistic diversity, are predominantly spoken at the edges of dominant linguistic areas. This study explores the origins of the Bangime isolate and its Bangande speakers. By correlating loan words associated with agriculture with interdisciplinary data, the paper focuses on West African crops like millet and sorghum to suggest a Bangande migration timeline. This research contributes to a study on the origins of loan words for plants and animals linked to their domestication in West Africa. Preliminary results indicate a link between early Bangime speakers and Mande communities, especially the Soninke-Bozo. It is yet to be determined if the Bangande originally farmed in their present territories or elsewhere.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
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Part I. Setting the stage
- Introduction 2
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Part II. Typological features of isolates vs. non-isolates
- Is there a typological profile of isolates? 22
- The Amuric language family 48
- An Austronesian-type voice system in an Amazonian isolate? 71
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Part III. Recovering the histories of isolates
- Etymologies in a language isolate 104
- The Small Bang 142
- Combining disparate lines of evidence in the study of the history of language isolates, exemplified with Mochica from Northern Peru 176
- The Múra doculects and Múra-Pirahã historical linguistics 208
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Part IV. Isolates and language contact
- Baroque accretions and isolation 248
- California isolates 270
-
Part V. Isolates and language documentation and classification
- One language or two? 306
- Subject index 335
- Language index 337
- Name index 339
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Part I. Setting the stage
- Introduction 2
-
Part II. Typological features of isolates vs. non-isolates
- Is there a typological profile of isolates? 22
- The Amuric language family 48
- An Austronesian-type voice system in an Amazonian isolate? 71
-
Part III. Recovering the histories of isolates
- Etymologies in a language isolate 104
- The Small Bang 142
- Combining disparate lines of evidence in the study of the history of language isolates, exemplified with Mochica from Northern Peru 176
- The Múra doculects and Múra-Pirahã historical linguistics 208
-
Part IV. Isolates and language contact
- Baroque accretions and isolation 248
- California isolates 270
-
Part V. Isolates and language documentation and classification
- One language or two? 306
- Subject index 335
- Language index 337
- Name index 339
