African Language Structures

This is a practical & authoritative survey of linguistic characteristics of a large & representative set of African languages. The book covers a wide array of languages & language phenomena in as much detail as possible without imposing an excessive burden on the reader. Tonal systems & noun class system, & numerous other features of phonology, morphology, & syntax are extensively covered. Wilmers worked on almost all the languages treated here, giving the reader an assurance of accuracy & consistency. Apart from its significance to African language specialists, this book will be welcomed by searchers for language universals (who will appreciate the breadth of coverage), by fieldworkers puzzled by various intricacies in a language, & by scholars who need a clearer picture of the mass of linguistic data that has emerged from Africa. J. Schwarz