Searching Language Materials in BU Libraries Search
Finding African Language Materials in the Catalog
Start with the name of the ethnic group followed by the word language: Yoruba language
You may also find useful information by using the country name followed by the word language, as in Nigeria language.
This will catch works on the languages of Nigeria, as well as subjects related to language in Nigeria.
Browsing African Language books in the collection.
The African Studies Library has always collected extensively in works in and about African languages, even before the African Studies Center undertook the teaching of African languages in 1978.
Dictionaries, grammars, linguistic studies and readers and general works in the languages are collected.
Browse the following call number ranges:
| African languages and literature | PL 8000 - PL 8800 |
| Arabic | PJ 6000-8499 |
| Ethiopian languages | PJ 8991-9290 |
| Somalian languages | PJ 2531-2551 |
Reference Materials
African Language Materials in the Boston University Libraries by Location: African Studies Library Reference (Z7106 .A55 1988 )Publication Date: 1988** Note that while this publication is a useful guide to our collections, it is very out-dated. Consult with a librarian for an updated list of materials by language.
The Atlas of Africa by
Atlas of Africa was published in Paris by Jeune Afrique in 1973. Although now considerably out of date, this remains the best atlas of the continent of Africa available. A more recent edition, smaller, with text in French, and maps of inferior quality, is far from a satisfactory replacement. Particularly useful are the continent-wide maps illustrating historical events as well as physical, social, and economic geographical features. Includes maps of the entire continent showing ethnic and language locations.
Location: African Studies Library Reference G2445 .F72 1973Publication Date: 1973
Language map of Africa and the adjacent islands ; Provisional ed., rev. ed.. by
Includes a discussion of classification and an alphabetical index. There are 4 maps of various scales.
Location: African Studies Library Reference G8200.E3 1977 .D25ISBN: 9780853020622Publication Date: 1977, ©1976- African Languages by
ivaz, Derek and Patricia E. Scott. African Languages; A Genetic and Decimalized Classification for Bibliographic and General Reference . Boston: G.K Hall, 1977. Attempts to reconcile Greenberg, H. E. Bliss, Dewey, Library of Congress and the Universal Decimal System.Part 1 is the classification schedule. Part 2 is an alphabetic index with many variants of the language names keyed to the classification scheme. Language family trees are included.
Location: African Studies Library Reference Z697.A33 F58ISBN: 0816180261Publication Date: 1977
- The languages of Africa ; [2d ed. with additions and corrections]. by
This work hypothesizes five major "families" of African languages, and is considered the classic work on the classification of African languages.
Location: Mugar Memorial Library Stacks PL8005 .F66Publication Date: 1966
A Thesaurus of African Languages by
A departure from traditional classification, this work attempts to show relationships between languages based on the perceptions of their speakers. The orthographic devices, font style and peculiar convention of putting the entire text in lower case detracts from the utility of this major work. Contains a classified inventory, a listing by country, a section on writing systems, bibliography and index.
Location: African Studies Library Reference PL8005 .M36 1987ISBN: 9780905450247Publication Date: 1987-01-01
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