The Northeast Bantu languages are a group of
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu language, Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀), or Ntu languages are a language family of about 600 languages of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern, East Africa, Eastern and Southeast Africa, South ...
spoken in
East Africa
East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
. In
Guthrie's geographic classification, they fall within Bantu zones E50 plus E46 (Sonjo), E60 plus E74a (Taita), F21–22, J, G60, plus
Northeast Coast Bantu (of zones E & G).
[Derek Nurse, 2003, ''The Bantu Languages''] Some of these languages (F21, most of E50, and some of J) share a phonological innovation called
Dahl's law that is unlikely to be borrowed as a productive process, though individual words reflecting Dahl's law have been borrowed into neighboring languages.
The languages, or clusters, are:
*Northeast Bantu languages
**Kikuyu–Kamba
Thagiicu (primarily E50):
***
Sonjo (E40)
***
Cuka
***
Meru (incl. Tharaka, Mwimbi-Muthambi)
***South
****
Kamba
Kamba may refer to:
*Kamba African Rainforest Experiences, a collection of eco-luxury lodges in the Republic of Congo
*Kamba people of Kenya
*Bena-Kamba, a community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
*Khampa, also spelled Kamba, Tibetan peop ...
,
Daisu
****
Gikuyu,
Embu
Embu may refer to:
Places
; in Brazil
* Embu das Artes
* Embu-Guaçu
; in Kenya
* Embu, Kenya
* Embu County
Other
*Embu people of Kenya
*Embu language, the Bantu language spoken by them
{{Disamb, geo ...
**Chaga–Taita
***
Taita (Dawida; E70) –
Sagalla
***
Chaga languages (E60)
**
Northeast Coast Bantu (G10-G40):
Swahili (E70), ''etc.''
**
Takama:
Sukuma–
Nyamwezi (+
Konongo–Ruwila),
Kimbu (F20),
Iramba
Iramba is one of the six districts of the Singida Region of central Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northwest by the Shinyanga Region, to the North by Simiyu Region, to the east by the Mkalama District, to the South by Ikungi District and to ...
–
Isanzu
The Isanzu (Anyihanzu) are a Bantu ethno-linguistic group based in Mkalama District, Singida Region, Tanzania. In 1987 the Isanzu population was estimated to number 32,40 The Isanzu have matrilineal descent groups and are agriculturalists who su ...
,
Nyaturu (Rimi) (F30), ?
Holoholo–Tumbwe–Lumbwe (D20)
**
Great Lakes Bantu (zone J):
Luhya Luhya or Abaluyia may refer to:
* Luhya people
* Luhya language
{{disambig
Language and nationality disambiguation pages ...
,
Gusii,
Kuria,
Suba,
Zanaki,
Ikoma,
Samia,
Marachi,
Khayo,
Rwanda-Rundi
Rwanda-Rundi or West Highlands Kivu is a group of Bantu languages, specifically a dialect continuum, spoken in Central Africa. Two dialects, Kirundi and Kinyarwanda, have been standardized as the national languages of Burundi and Rwanda respec ...
,
Ganda,
Rutara languages, ''etc.''
**Bena–Kinga (G60)
***
Sangu
***
Hehe
***
Bena
***
Pangwa
***
Kinga–
Magoma
***
Wanji
***
Kisi
***?
Manda (N10)
Notes
{{Bantu-lang-stub