African languages
It is estimated that there are 1250 to 2100 (and by some counts over 3000) languages spoken natively in Africa, it all depends on how you count them.
However, the key issue is the definition of African in this context, for there are a number of conflicting interpretations, often based on political and other imperatives.
The core distinction is whether or not the languages of European or Asian origin can be considered African languages or not. Notably languages which have developed own African versions (the regional African dialects of French, Portuguese, Italian, German and so on, and even new independent Indo-European languages, such as Afrikaans, a blend of Southern African indigenous and Eastern and European languages.)
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Africa
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
Return to
Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
