Some Hypotheses About Possible Isolates within the Atlantic Branch of the Niger-Congo Phylum

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt:This paper deals with the status of some potential isolates, i.e. languages that have no more than 20% of common basic vocabulary with any other so-called Atlantic language (from the figures in Sapir 1971). Four candidates may be proposed: Bijogo, Nalu, Sua and Limba. To these we may Bayot, which we will examine in more detail (data from Diagne 2009).