Untangling the West-Coastal Bantu mess: identification, geography and phylogeny of the Bantu B50-80 languages

Abstract

In this paper we deal with the identification, geography and internal phylogeny of Bantu B50-80 languages. According to lexicostatistical and lexicon-based phylogenetic studies, these languages belong to the West-Coastal branch of the Bantu family along with the Kikongo Language Cluster. First, we present an updated list of nearly 100 language varieties falling into Guthrie’s B50-80 groups along with corresponding updated geographical coordinate values. We dissipate confusion surrounding some glossonyms and point out misinterpretations that led to conflation of different varieties and misnumbering in non-genetic, referential classifications. Second, we present the results of a new phylogenetic study including all B50-80 varieties in our sample to be later compared to an internal classification based on shared phonological innovations. Our results show that: (i) previous internal subgroupings of Guthrie’s B50-80 languages within West-Coastal Bantu either need to be revised or are no longer valid against new evidence; and (ii) the new internal structure of the West-Coastal branch suggests that the homeland of Proto-West-Coastal Bantu speakers is not to be found, as previously believed, somewhere in between the Bateke Plateau and the Bandundu region in the DRC but rather much more eastward, i.e. somewhere between the Kamtsha and Kasai Rivers in the DRC.