More diversity enGENDERed by African languages: an introduction

Tom Güldemann,Ines Fiedler

doi:10.1515/stuf-2021-1030

Abstract

Abstract We give an overview of current research questions pursued in connection with an ongoing project on nominal classification systems in Africa, with a particular focus on Niger-Congo. We first introduce our cross-linguistically applicable methodological approach which provides new insights into the design of a range of gender systems on the continent. We then apply these ideas to the “noun class” systems of Niger-Congo. We focus on non-canonical phenomena of poorly known languages, which attest to an unexpected systemic diversity beyond the well-known Bantu type and promise to change the synchronic and diachronic perspective on the gender systems of this family.

Highlights

This issue of Language Typology and Universals assembles a collection of papers that deal with the analysis of a variety of gender systems in African languages
The meeting was organized within the framework of the research project “Noun classification systems in Africa between gender and nominal declension–deriflection” which has been sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – project number 338110259 since March 2017
One goal is to refine the approach to the cross-linguistic typology of gender systems in Africa and beyond, within the greater context of nominal classification in general

Summary

Introduction

This issue of Language Typology and Universals assembles a collection of papers that deal with the analysis of a variety of gender systems in African languages. The project has two major research foci, both of which are reflected in this volume, as well as in this introduction paper. One goal is to refine the approach to the cross-linguistic typology of gender systems in Africa and beyond, within the greater context of nominal classification in general. The second main goal of the project is to establish a framework for the synchronic description and historical reconstruction of gender in Niger–Congo, the globally biggest language family with this feature, and to apply it by means of a large-scale comparison of maximally diverse systems.

Gender typology in Africa and beyond

Nominal form classes versus agreement classes in gender systems

Class exponents dedicated to specific gender and number values?

Genders not sex-based

The multiple challenges of Niger-Congo “noun classes”

The contributions of this volume