An accessible introduction to African languages and linguistics, covering language typology, linguistic structures and sociolinguistics.

List of maps; Notes on contributors; 1. Introduction Bernd Heine and Derek Nurse; 2. Niger-Congo Kay Williamson and Roger Blench; 3. Nilo-Saharan Lionel M. Bender; 4. Afroasiatic Richard J. Hayward; 5. Khoisan Tom Güldemann and Rainer Vossen; 6. Phonology G. N. Clements; 7. Morphology Gerrit J. Dimmendaal; 8. Syntax John R. Watters; 9. Typology Denis Creissels; 10. Comparative linguistics Paul Newman; 11. Language and history Christopher Ehret; 12. Language and society H. Ekkehard Wolff; References; Index of authors; Index of languages; Index of subjects.