SIL International Publications

A sociolinguistic survey of the Gbe language communities of Benin and Togo: Gbe language family overview

Relation Text: 
SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2011-012
Statement of Responsibility: 
Kluge, Angela
Authors: 
Issue Date: 
2011
Abstract: 
This paper presents a tentative classification of the Gbe language varieties (Kwa language family), spoken in the southeastern part of West Africa. Given the chaining pattern of the Gbe cluster, this paper also discusses whether the individual Gbe speech varieties should be considered and classified as dialects of one larger language, or as closely related but distinct languages, or as member languages of a Gbe macrolanguage. To date no satisfying solution is available. Further, this paper serves as an introduction to the 10-volume series “A sociolinguistic survey of the Gbe language communities of Benin and Togo,” represented in a series of reports published in SIL Electronic Survey Reports: Kpési (Durieux-Boon et al. 2010), Ayizo (Hatfield and McHenry 2010), Kotafon (Hatfield et al. 2010), Xwela (Henson et al. 2010), Xwla (Henson and Kluge 2010), Ci (Henson 2010), Defi (Johnson 2010), Saxwe, Daxe, and Se (Johnson 2010), Tofin (Schoch 2010), and Gbesi (Schoch 2010).
Extent: 
20 pages
Subject: 
Survey Report
Language Surveys
Country: 
Benin
Togo
Content Language: 
Nature of Work: 
Domain SubType: