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List of extinct languages of Africa

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Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
Endangered
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Related topics
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
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Languages in Danger categories

This is a list of extinct languages of Africa, languages which have undergone language death, have no native speakers and no spoken descendant. There are 67 languages listed.

List

[edit]
Language/dialect Family Date of extinction Region Ethnic group(s)
African Romance Indo-European 1400s AD[1] Roman Africa Romans
Ajawa Afro-Asiatic 1920-1940s AD[2] Bauchi State Nigerians
Akpondu Afro-Asiatic after 2005 AD[3] Kaduna State People from Akpondu
Asa Afro-Asiatic after 1999 AD[4] Tanzania Asa
Auyokawa Atlantic–Congo [data missing] Jigawa State Nigerians
Basa-Gumna Atlantic–Congo 1987[5] Chanchaga Nigerians
Beigo Eastern Sudanic? 1960s[6] Darfur Beigo speakers
Berti Saharan 1990s[7] South Darfur People of Darfur
Bikya Atlantic–Congo 1987[8] Cameroon Bikya speakers
Birgid Eastern Sudanic 1970s AD[9] North Darfur Birgid speakers
Bishuo Atlantic–Congo [data missing] Cameroon Bishuo speakers
Boro Atlantic–Congo? [data missing] Ghana Boro speakers
Bosha Afro-Asiatic [data missing] Kingdom of Garo Oromo people
Coptic Afro-Asiatic 1600s AD[10][L] Egypt Copts
Duli Atlantic–Congo 1970-1990s AD[11] northern Cameroon Duli speakers
El Molo Afro-Asiatic 1999s AD[12] Lake Turkana El Molo people
Esuma Atlantic–Congo 1800s AD[13] Assinie-Mafia People of the Ivory Coast
Egyptian Afro-Asiatic 400s AD[14] Ancient Egypt Egyptians
Gafat Afro-Asiatic after 1947 AD[15] Ethiopia Gafat people
Gamo-Ningi Atlantic–Congo 1980s AD[16] Bauchi State Nigerians
Gbin Mande 1900s AD[17] Bondoukou Gbin speakers
Geʽez Afro-Asiatic 2000 AD[18][L] Eritrea and Ethiopia Ethiopians and Eritreans
Guanche Afro-Asiatic? 1500s AD[19] Canary Islands Guanches
Gule Koman? [data missing] Sudan Gule speakers
Homa Atlantic–Congo 1975 AD[20] South Sudan Homa speakers
Horo Central Sudanic 1940-1960s AD[21] Chad Horo speakers
Italian Eritrean Italian based Pidgin [data missing] Eritrea Italians and Eritreans
Jalaa Language isolate 1992 Nigeria Jalabe
Kasabe Atlantic–Congo 5 November 1995[22] Cameroon Kasabe people
Kpati Atlantic–Congo 1971 AD[23] Taraba State Nigerians
Kubi Afro-Asiatic 1995 AD[24] Bauchi State Nigerians
Kwadi Khoe–Kwadi 1981 AD[25] Angola Kwadi speakers
Lisan al-Gharbi Afro-Asiatic 1300-1500s AD[26] Morocco Berbers
Lower Nossob Tuu 2005 South Africa and Botswana Lower Nossob speakers
Mamluk-Kipchak Turkic after 1516 AD[27] Egypt Mamluk
Mawa unclassified [data missing] Nigeria Nigerians
Meroitic unclassified 300s AD[28] Kingdom of Kush Meroitic people
Mesmes Afro-Asiatic 2000 AD[29] Kingdom of Kush Mesmes
Mittu Central Sudanic 1940s AD[30] South Sudan Morokodo and Madi
Mozarabic Indo-European 1400s AD[31] North Africa Mozarabs
Muskum Chadic 1981 AD[32] Chad Muskum speakers
Nagumi Atlantic–Congo after 1977 AD[33] Cameroon's Northern region Nagumi people
Ngasa Afro-Asiatic? 1950s AD[34] Tanzania Ngasa
Ngbee Atlantic–Congo 1960s AD[35] Democratic Republic of the Congo Mangbele
Ngomvia Afro-Asiatic? 1976-1999 AD[36] Mbulu Ngomvia speakers
Numidian Afro-Asiatic 200s BC[37] Numidia Numidians
Palmyrene Aramaic Afro-Asiatic after 274 AD[38] Palmyrene Empire Palmyrenes
Punic Afro-Asiatic 600s AD[39] Carthage Carthaginians
Sabaic Afro-Asiatic 600s AD[40] Horn of Africa Sabaeans
Sabir Romance-based Pidgin 1800s AD[41] Mediterranean Basin Medieval traders and Crusaders
Sened Afro-Asiatic [data missing] Tunisia Speakers in Sened
Seroa Tuu 1870s AD[42] South Africa Seroa speakers
Singa Atlantic–Congo [data missing] Rusinga Island Singa speakers
Socotra Swahili Afro-Asiatic by 2009 AD[43] Soqotri people Socotra
Teshenawa Afro-Asiatic [data missing] Jigawa State Nigerians
Togoyo Ubangian 1985 AD[44] South Sudan Togoyo people
Torona Atlantic–Congo January 2014 AD[45] South Kordofan Torona people
Vandalic Indo-European 400s AD[46] North Africa Vandals
Vazimba Austronesian [data missing] Madagascar Vazimba
Weyto unclassified [data missing] Lake Tana Weyto caste
ǀXam Tuu 1910s AD[47] South Africa and Lesotho ǀXam speakers
ǁKā Tuu late 20th century South Africa ǁKā speakers
ǁXegwi Tuu 1988 AD[48] Lake Chrissie ǁXegwi
ǃGãǃne Tuu after 1931 South Africa, near Tsolo ǃGãǃne speakers
ǂUngkue Tuu mid 20th century South Africa, Vaal River ǂUngkue speakers
Yeni Atlantic–Congo [data missing] Cameroon Yeni speakers
Zumaya Afro-Asiatic by 2006 AD[49] Cameroon Zumaya speakers

Notes

[edit]
L These languages can still be spoken today, but are only used liturgically.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Loporcaro, Michele (2015). Vowel Length from Latin to Romance. Oxford University Press. p. 47. ...as well as by the evidence for a spoken Romance variety which developed locally out of Latin and persisted, in rural areas of Tunisia, as late as the last two decades of the 15th century
  2. ^ "Ajawa". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2024-06-09. Became extinct between 1920 and 1940.
  3. ^ Blench, Roger M. 2012. Akpondu, Nigbo, Bəbər and Nisam: moribund or extinct languages of central Nigeria Babur.
  4. ^ "Aasáx". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2024-06-09. Reported in 1999 to still be spoken in the central Massai Steppe.
  5. ^ "Basa-Gumna". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2024-11-29. The last fluent speaker shifted to Hausa [hau] by 1987.
  6. ^ "Baygo". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-11-29. The last speakers probably survived into the 1960s
  7. ^ "Sudan - The Muslim Peoples". Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Bikya". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2024-11-29. Last known speakers survived into the late 1980s
  9. ^ "Birked". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-11-29. Last speakers survived into the 1970s
  10. ^ P. Allen, James (25 November 2020). CCoptic: A Grammar of Its Six Major Dialects. p. 1. Coptic is the name of the final stage of the ancient Egyptian language, spoken and written from the fourth century AD until perhaps sometime in the seventeenth century.
  11. ^ "Duli-Gey". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2024-11-30. Probably became extinct in the latter half of the 20th century.
  12. ^ "El Molo". Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speaker, Kaayo, died in 1999 (2012 M. Tosco).
  13. ^ "Esuma". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2024. Until c. 1800 AD.
  14. ^ "Hieroglyphics Cracked 1,000 Years Earlier Than Thought". ScienceDaily. 2004-10-07. Retrieved 7 June 2024. Following the Roman invasion of Egypt in 30 BC the use of hieroglyphics began to die out with the last known writing in the fifth century AD.
  15. ^ Lipiński, Rajend (2001). Semitic Languages: Outline of a Comparative Edward. p. 89. Gafat was a Semitic language spoken in the region of the Blue Nile, in western Ethiopia. At present, the language disappeared completely in favour of Amharic. Its study is based mainly on a translation of the Song of Songs made from Amharic into Gafat in 1769-72 at the request of James Bruce and on the ample documentation collected in 1947 by W. Leslau from four native speakers.
  16. ^ "Gamo-Ningi". Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. Last known speaker survived into the early 1980s.
  17. ^ "One Hundred Years Old Language Documentation: Preliminary Notes on the Gbin Language" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2024. The now-dead language Gbin belonged to the South branch of the Mande linguistic family; as recently as one hundred years ago Gbin speakers lived in the city of Bondoukou and its surroundings.
  18. ^ O'Leary, De Lacy (1923). Comparative grammar of the Semitic languages. p. 23. ...Ge'ez or Ethiopic. It ceased to be a spoken tongue in the fourteenth century A.D.
  19. ^ "Guanche". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2024-06-06. Extinct in the 16th century.
  20. ^ "Homa". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2024-06-09. Extinct in 1975.
  21. ^ "Horo". Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. Probably became extinct in the early 20th century.
  22. ^ Crystal, David (2002). Language Death: Factual and Theoretical Explorations with Special Reference to East Africa. p. 1. On 4 November 1995, Kasabe existed; on 5 November, it did not.
  23. ^ Brenzinger, Matthias (1992). Language Death: Factual and Theoretical Explorations with Special Reference to East Africa.
  24. ^ "Kubi". Endangered Languages Project. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  25. ^ "Kwadi". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2024-06-09. J. C. Winter (1981) says it is extinct. There were 3 speakers in 1971 who used it regularly (E. O. J. Westphal).
  26. ^ J. Aguadé, Peuplement et arabisation au Maghreb occidental: dialectologie et histoire (Casa de Velázquez, 1998), p.17
  27. ^
  28. ^ "Meroitic". Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024. 200 BC - 4th century AD.
  29. ^ Ahland, Michael Bryan (2010). Language death in Mesmes: A sociolinguistic and historical-comparative examination of a disappearing language.
  30. ^ "Mittu". Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. The last speaker survived into the 1940s.
  31. ^ "Mozarabic". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2024. Extinct c 1400 AD..
  32. ^ "Muskum". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2024-06-09. There was 1 speaker in 1976.
  33. ^ "Nagumi". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Ngasa". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 2024-06-09. Use began to diminish in the 1950s.
  35. ^ "Ngbee". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2024-11-29. The last speaker probably died by the 1960s
  36. ^ "Kw'adza". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2024-06-09. C. Ehret was reported to be working with the last speaker (M. L. Bender 1976:280). Confirmed by R. Kiessling (1999).
  37. ^ "Berbère". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024. c. 200 BC.
  38. ^ "THE ARABIC WORDS IN PALMYRENE INSCRIPTIONS". ResearchGate. Retrieved 7 June 2024. The earliest dated Palmyrene inscription is from the year 44 BC and the latest discovery has been dated to the year 274 AD.
  39. ^ "Punic". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2024-06-06. 1st Millennium BC - 600 AD.
  40. ^ "Sabaic". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024. 100 BC - 600 AD.
  41. ^ The Lingua Franca. Natalie Operstein. 2021.
  42. ^ "Seroa". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2024-11-30. The last speaker died in the 1870s (Traill 2002).
  43. ^ Maho, Jouni Filip (2009). "The 2nd New Updated Guthrie List" (PDF). p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2018. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  44. ^ "Togoyo". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2024-11-30. The last speaker probably died in the mid 1980s.
  45. ^ "Torona". Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. No known L1 speakers. The last known proficient speaker died in January 2014 (Norton and Alaki 2015).
  46. ^ "Vandalic". LINGUIST List. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2024. 5th century AD.
  47. ^ "ǀXam". Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2024. The last speakers survived into the 1910s (Traill 1995).
  48. ^ Mesthrie, Rajend (2002). Language in South Africa. p. 42. In 1975 I interviewed Jopi Mabinda, the last //Xegwi speaker. He was able to reproduce perfectly the linguistic material he had given to Lanham and Hallowes and he was fluent in Zulu. He told me he was the only speaker of the language and that he spoke it to his sister and brother-in-law, who only had a passive knowledge of it. He was murdered at Lothair, in the eastern Transvaal, in 1988
  49. ^ Blench, Roger; Dendo, Mallam (14 November 2006). "The Afro-Asiatic Languages" (PDF). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
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