Maybe you were faced with a difficult crossword puzzle clue for a language family that includes Swahili. Maybe you’re simply curious by nature. Either way, the language family that includes Swahili is Bantu. What is Swahili and where does it come from? That is a little more complex of an answer, and the details on its origins and history are below.
What Is Swahili?
As mentioned, the language family that includes Swahili is the Bantu family of languages. This comes from the Niger-Congo language family, with its core derived from Bantu languages spoken in East Africa. However, a large portion of the Swahili vocabulary draws influence from other languages, including Arabic.
Why Does Swahili Have Borrowed Vocabulary from Other Languages?
Quite simply, the historical trade routes had a huge influence on the language of Swahili. In Arabic, the word “Swahili” means “people of the coast,” according to the Boston University African Studies Center.
Swahili Dialects
There are around 15 main dialects for Swahili, though three of them are considered the most important. Kiunguja is spoken on Zanzibar as well as on Tanzania’s mainland; Kimvita is spoken in Kenya and Mombasa; and Kiamu is spoken on Lamu as well as along the coast adjoining this island.
Swahili Language History, Structure & Characteristics
History of Swahili
The language family that includes Swahili is the Bantu family language, which boasts the largest number of speakers. According to the BBC, there are around 200 million people who speak Swahili. It is believed that this language emerged along the East African coast between 100 and 500 CE.
Linguist Wilhelm H. I. Bleek coined the term ‘Bantu,’ and later on he and Carl Meinhof separately carried out studies of this language. What they discovered was how deeply influenced Swahili has been throughout the centuries by encountering a variety of languages.
Structure and Characteristics of Swahili
Swahili draws much of its vocabulary from other language influences. Arabic has had the biggest impact, thanks to trade, though it should be noted that during British and German colonial periods in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Swahili was incorporated for education and administration.
Since the language family that includes Swahili is Bantu, those who speak other Bantu languages find it easy to learn. There is no lexical tone, and since words are pronounced as they are written, it is easy to read, even for a beginner.
What Is the Language Family That Includes Swahili NYT Crossword Clue?
If you are a NYT crossword puzzle fan, then perhaps you have been stumped by the clue, “language family that includes Swahili.” Now that we have covered more about Swahili, you might be able to venture a guess as to what the clue could be. Typically, the clue goes back to Swahili’s roots, which is Bantu.
Conclusion
The language family that includes Swahili is Bantu, and knowing this may open your eyes to more of the world. With so many speakers of Swahili, it is a reminder that sharing our influences has impacts, and done in the right way, it brings people together.
