The Ghana–Togo Mountain languages, formerly called Togorestsprachen (Togo Remnant languages) and Central Togo languages, form a grouping of about fourteen languages spoken in the mountains of the Ghana–Togo borderland. They are part of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family.
Bernhard Struck, in 1912, was the first to group together these languages under the label Semibantu von Mitteltogo. Westermann, in his classification of the then Sudanic languages, adopted the grouping but called it Togorestsprachen.[1] This was mainly a loose geographical-typological grouping based on the elaborate noun class systems of the languages; lack of comparative data prevented a more definitive phylogenetic classification. Bernd Heine (1968) carried out comparative research among the group, establishing a basic division between Ka-Togo and Na-Togo based on the word for 'flesh' in the languages. Dakubu and Ford (1988) renamed this cluster the Central Togo languages, a term still used by some (e.g. Blench 2001); since the mid-90s, the term Ghana–Togo Mountain languages has become more common.
No comparative study of the languages has appeared in print since Heine (1968); Blench (unpublished) presented a tentative reclassification of the group in 2001, noting the internal diversity of the grouping. It is still unclear whether the grouping forms a branch on its own within Kwa.[2]
Featuresedit
A characteristic of these languages is their Niger–Congo noun class system, since in many surrounding languages only remnants of such a system are found. All Ghana–Togo Mountain languages are tonal and most have a nine or ten vowel system employing ATR vowel harmony. Both Ewe and Twi, the dominant regional languages, have exerted considerable influence on many GTM languages.
Languagesedit
English names
Autonyms
People
Language
Na
Adele
Bidire
Gidire
Anii, Basila
Giseme, Akpe
Logba
Akpanawò
Ikpana
Lelemi, Buem
Lε-lεmi
Lefana, Buem
Lε-fana
Siwu-Lolobi, Akpafu
sg. Ɔwu, pl. Mawu
Siwu
Likpe
sg. Ɔkpεlá, pl. Bakpεlá
Sεkpεlé
Santrokofí
sg. Ɔlɛɛ, pl. Balɛɛ
Sεlεε
Ka
Avatime
Ke-dane-ma
Sì-yà
Nyangbo
Batrugbu
Tùtrùgbù
Tafi
Bàgbɔ̀
Tɛ̀gbɔ̀
Ikposo
Akpɔsɔ
Ikpɔsɔ
Bowiri, Tora
Bawuli
Tuwuli
Ahlon
Igo
Akebu
Ǝkpǝǝβǝ
Kɨkpǝǝkǝ
Animere
Animere
Classification of GTM languagesedit
Heine (1968) placed the GTM languages into two branches of Kwa, Na-Togo and Ka-Togo:
However, this classification was distorted by influence from Ewe on the one hand and Twi on the other. Blench (2006) makes the following tentative classification, which he expects to change as more data becomes available. One branch each of the Na and Ka languages are split off. As with Heine's classification, these may be independent branches of Kwa:
^Blench (2001) says that 'Although much of the literature and in particular Heine (1968) treats the Central Togo languages as a unit, since Stewart (1989) it has generally been accepted that these form distinct branches showing no particular relationship.'
^Westermann, Diedrich Hermann (1922) 'Vier Sprachen aus Mitteltogo. Likpe, Bowili, Akpafu und Adele, nebst einigen Resten der Borosprache. Nach Aufnahmen von Emil Funke und Adam Mischlich bearbeitet'. Mitteilungen des Seminars für Orientalische Sprachen, 25, 1-59.
Sourcesedit
Blench, Roger (2001). Comparative Central Togo: What have we learnt since Heine? (paper presented at the 32nd Annual Conference on African Linguistics and subsequently revised), 39p.
Funke, E. (1920) ' Original-Texte aus den Klassensprachen in Mittel-Togo', Zeitschrift für Eingeborenen-Sprachen, 10, 261-313.
Heine, Bernd (1968) Die Verbreitung und Gliedering der Togorestsprachen (Kölner Beiträge zur Afrikanistik vol. 1). Köln: Druckerei Wienand.
Kropp Dakubu, M.E. & K.C. Ford (1988) 'The Central Togo Languages'. In: The Languages of Ghana, M.E. Kropp-Dakubu (ed.), 119–153. London: Kegan Paul International.
Plehn, Rudolf (1899) 'Beiträge zur Völkerkunde des Togo-Gebietes', in Mittheilungen des Seminars für Orientalische Sprachen, 2, part III, 87—124.
Seidel, A., (1898) 'Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen in Togo. Aufgrund der von Dr. Rudolf Plehn und anderen gesammelten Materialien bearbeitet'. Zeitschrift für Afrikanische und Oceanische Sprachen, 4, 201-286
Struck, Bernhard (1912) 'Einige Sudan-Wortstämme', Zeitschrift für Kolonialsprachen, 2/3, 2/4.
Westermann, Diedrich Hermann (1935) 'Charakter und Einteilung der Sudansprachen', Africa, 8, 2, 129-148.
External linksedit
The Southern Ghana-Togo Mountain Groups: A description of their languages and cultural heritage. (CNWS research project).
Ghana-Togo Mountain languages home page
April 14, 2024
ghana, togo, mountain, languages, formerly, called, togorestsprachen, togo, remnant, languages, central, togo, languages, form, grouping, about, fourteen, languages, spoken, mountains, ghana, togo, borderland, they, part, branch, niger, congo, family, togo, re. The Ghana Togo Mountain languages formerly called Togorestsprachen Togo Remnant languages and Central Togo languages form a grouping of about fourteen languages spoken in the mountains of the Ghana Togo borderland They are part of the Kwa branch of the Niger Congo family Ghana Togo Mountain languagesTogo Remnant Central TogoGeographicdistributionIvory Coast Ghana and TogoLinguistic classificationNiger Congo Atlantic CongoKwaGhana Togo Mountain languagesSubdivisionsNa Togo Anii Adere Ka Togo Kebu AnimereGlottologkato1245 Ka Togo nato1234 Na Togo Logba Tota village in Ghana s Volta Region Contents 1 History of classification 2 Features 3 Languages 4 Classification of GTM languages 5 See also 6 Bibliography 6 1 Citations 6 2 Sources 7 External linksHistory of classification editBernhard Struck in 1912 was the first to group together these languages under the label Semibantu von Mitteltogo Westermann in his classification of the then Sudanic languages adopted the grouping but called it Togorestsprachen 1 This was mainly a loose geographical typological grouping based on the elaborate noun class systems of the languages lack of comparative data prevented a more definitive phylogenetic classification Bernd Heine 1968 carried out comparative research among the group establishing a basic division between Ka Togo and Na Togo based on the word for flesh in the languages Dakubu and Ford 1988 renamed this cluster the Central Togo languages a term still used by some e g Blench 2001 since the mid 90s the term Ghana Togo Mountain languages has become more common No comparative study of the languages has appeared in print since Heine 1968 Blench unpublished presented a tentative reclassification of the group in 2001 noting the internal diversity of the grouping It is still unclear whether the grouping forms a branch on its own within Kwa 2 Features editA characteristic of these languages is their Niger Congo noun class system since in many surrounding languages only remnants of such a system are found All Ghana Togo Mountain languages are tonal and most have a nine or ten vowel system employing ATR vowel harmony Both Ewe and Twi the dominant regional languages have exerted considerable influence on many GTM languages Languages editEnglish names AutonymsPeople LanguageNa Adele Bidire GidireAnii BasilaGiseme AkpeLogba Akpanawo IkpanaLelemi Buem Le lemiLefana Buem Le fanaSiwu Lolobi Akpafu sg Ɔwu pl Mawu SiwuLikpe sg Ɔkpela pl Bakpela SekpeleSantrokofi sg Ɔlɛɛ pl Balɛɛ SeleeKa Avatime Ke dane ma Si yaNyangbo Batrugbu TutrugbuTafi Bagbɔ Tɛ gbɔ Ikposo Akpɔsɔ IkpɔsɔBowiri Tora Bawuli TuwuliAhlon IgoAkebu Ǝkpǝǝbǝ KɨkpǝǝkǝAnimere AnimereClassification of GTM languages editHeine 1968 placed the GTM languages into two branches of Kwa Na Togo and Ka Togo Na Togo 1 Lelemi Siwu Akpafu Lolobi Likpe Santrokofi Selee 2 Logba 3 Adele Basila Anii Ka Togo 1 Avatime Nyangbo Tafi 2 Ahlo Igo Bowili Kposo 3 Animere AkebuHowever this classification was distorted by influence from Ewe on the one hand and Twi on the other Blench 2006 makes the following tentative classification which he expects to change as more data becomes available One branch each of the Na and Ka languages are split off As with Heine s classification these may be independent branches of Kwa Na Togo reduced 1 Lelemi Siwu Akpafu Lolobi Likpe Santrokofi 2 Logba Anii Adere Adele Basila Anii Ka Togo reduced 1 Avatime Nyangbo Tafi Bowili 2 Ahlo Kposo Kebu Animere Animere AkebuEthnologue also lists Agotime which they note is similar to Ahlo Westernmann 1922 3 also includes Boro but this is uncertain due to the little data that is available See also editBoro language Ghana an extinct and scarcely attested language from the area that may be Na Togo List of Proto Central Togo reconstructions Wiktionary Bibliography editCitations edit E g Westermann 1935 146 Blench 2001 says that Although much of the literature and in particular Heine 1968 treats the Central Togo languages as a unit since Stewart 1989 it has generally been accepted that these form distinct branches showing no particular relationship Westermann Diedrich Hermann 1922 Vier Sprachen aus Mitteltogo Likpe Bowili Akpafu und Adele nebst einigen Resten der Borosprache Nach Aufnahmen von Emil Funke und Adam Mischlich bearbeitet Mitteilungen des Seminars fur Orientalische Sprachen 25 1 59 Sources edit Blench Roger 2001 Comparative Central Togo What have we learnt since Heine paper presented at the 32nd Annual Conference on African Linguistics and subsequently revised 39p Funke E 1920 Original Texte aus den Klassensprachen in Mittel Togo Zeitschrift fur Eingeborenen Sprachen 10 261 313 Heine Bernd 1968 Die Verbreitung und Gliedering der Togorestsprachen Kolner Beitrage zur Afrikanistik vol 1 Koln Druckerei Wienand Kropp Dakubu M E amp K C Ford 1988 The Central Togo Languages In The Languages of Ghana M E Kropp Dakubu ed 119 153 London Kegan Paul International Plehn Rudolf 1899 Beitrage zur Volkerkunde des Togo Gebietes in Mittheilungen des Seminars fur Orientalische Sprachen 2 part III 87 124 Seidel A 1898 Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Sprachen in Togo Aufgrund der von Dr Rudolf Plehn und anderen gesammelten Materialien bearbeitet Zeitschrift fur Afrikanische und Oceanische Sprachen 4 201 286Seidel treats Avatime 203 218 Logba 218 227 Nyangbo Tafi 227 229 Nkunya 230 234 Borada 235 238 Boviri 239 242 Akpafu 242 246 Santrokofi 246 250 Likpe 250 254 Axolo 254 257 Akposo 257 264 Kebu 264 267 Atakpame 267 272 the Fetischsprachen Agu 273 274 Gbelle Muatse 275 286 and the extinct Boro 286 Struck Bernhard 1912 Einige Sudan Wortstamme Zeitschrift fur Kolonialsprachen 2 3 2 4 Westermann Diedrich Hermann 1935 Charakter und Einteilung der Sudansprachen Africa 8 2 129 148 External links editThe Southern Ghana Togo Mountain Groups A description of their languages and cultural heritage CNWS research project Ghana Togo Mountain languages home page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ghana Togo Mountain languages amp oldid 1153149165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
