Ghana–Togo Mountain languages
Togo residual languages is an obsolete term for a sub-group of Kwa languages that constitute a subunit of the Volta -Congo branch of the Niger - Congo languages . The so-called Togo residual languages form according to current terminology in the Kwa languages, two genetic subunits: the Ka- Togo and the Na - Togo. The 14 languages of these two units are central Togo and north-western Benin spoken by about 300,000 people in eastern Ghana.
Development of the concept
The so-called Togo residual languages were recognized in 1912 by Bernhard Struck as genealogically related. He called them Semibantu of Central Togo. Diedrich Westermann replaced this name in 1922, first due to residual languages in Central Togo, followed in 1927 by Togo residual languages. This designation was replaced in English by Central Togo Languages . Joseph Greenberg (1950, 1963) took these languages in his Kwa group, today we speak of Na - Togo and Ka - Togo languages within the Kwa ..
Speech characteristic
Like most Niger - Congo languages also have the so-called Togo residual languages a noun class system, which is far better researched than that of neighboring language groups. The Togo residual languages - like most other Kwa languages - tonal languages and have a distinctive vowel system with vowel harmony. Many were strongly influenced by the dominant languages Ewe and Twi.
Classification
Na - Togo and Ka - Togo languages within the Kwa languages
- Kwa Ega
- Potou - Tano
- Ga - Dangme
- Na - Togo Lelemi: Lelemi - Lefana (40 thousand), Siwu (20 thousand); Sekpele (15 thousand), Sele ( Santrokofi ) (10 thousand)
- Logba: Logba (5 thousand)
- Anii -Adele: Anii (10 thousand), Adele (20 thousand)
- Avatime - Nyangbo: Avatime (15 thousand), Nyangbo (5 thousand), Tafi
- Kposo - Bowiri: Akposo (100 thousand), Tuwuli ( Bowili, Bowiri ) (10 thousand), Igo ( Ahlo );
- Kebu Animere: Akebu (40 thousand), Animere
As an individual languages here only the so-called Togo residual languages listed.