STUDIES ON INDIGENOUS SIGNED AND SPOKEN LANGUAGES OF AFRICA -

STUDIES ON INDIGENOUS SIGNED AND SPOKEN LANGUAGES OF AFRICA

Publication Date : 24/10/2025

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Author(s) :

EMMANUEL ASONYE , MARY EDWARD .

Volume/Issue :

Volume 1

Issue 1

(10 - 2025)

Abstract :

Africa is known for its diverse linguistic heritage as well as its rich cultural heritage and magnificent landscape. The continent is a linguistic treasure trove, with around one-third of the world's languages spoken within its borders. This linguistic wealth is the result of the interaction between indigenous languages, which are deeply rooted in many ethnics groups, and imported foreign languages, which were left as a legacy of colonialization. Scholars have long been interested in the history, origins, and linguistic peculiarities of African languages. As of 2021, Africa had about 2000 languages (Eberhard et al. 2022), each associated with diverse ethnic groups spread over the enormous continent. The linguistic environment reflects the continent's rich cultural tapestry and millennia old legacy. Some of these languages have prospered across vast territory, while others have remained limited to small villages and local communities. Nigeria is Africa's most linguistically diverse country, with 522 languages (Eberhard et al., 2022). This diversity reflects the varied nature of African communities and their extensive histories.