Difference between revisions of "Swahili"
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A [[Bantu]] language widely spoken in [[East Africa]]. Swahili is spoken as a first language by about 5 million people, and also serves as a [[lingua franca]] across [[Africa]], where it is spoken by over 30 million people as a second language<ref> http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/september/swahili.html</ref>. | A [[Bantu]] language widely spoken in [[East Africa]]. Swahili is spoken as a first language by about 5 million people, and also serves as a [[lingua franca]] across [[Africa]], where it is spoken by over 30 million people as a second language<ref> http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/september/swahili.html</ref>. | ||
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| + | Swahili arose as a complex hybrid of Bantu language and Arabic, and spread thanks to intense trade, including in slaves, between the Arab peninsula and eastern Africa. | ||
Syntactically, Swahili is largely Verb complex-object<ref> http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/september/swahili.html#stru</ref>. Because Swahili is an [[agglutinative]] language, the subject and verb combine through prefixes and suffixes, creating the Verb complex. | Syntactically, Swahili is largely Verb complex-object<ref> http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/september/swahili.html#stru</ref>. Because Swahili is an [[agglutinative]] language, the subject and verb combine through prefixes and suffixes, creating the Verb complex. | ||
Revision as of 16:02, April 8, 2007
Template:Stub A Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. Swahili is spoken as a first language by about 5 million people, and also serves as a lingua franca across Africa, where it is spoken by over 30 million people as a second language[1].
Swahili arose as a complex hybrid of Bantu language and Arabic, and spread thanks to intense trade, including in slaves, between the Arab peninsula and eastern Africa.
Syntactically, Swahili is largely Verb complex-object[2]. Because Swahili is an agglutinative language, the subject and verb combine through prefixes and suffixes, creating the Verb complex.