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SIL e-Books 9

Bantu Orthography Manual

Author  Schroeder, Leila
Abstract 

The Bantu Orthography Manual is a resource for developing writing systems among the Bantu subgroup of Niger-Congo languages. It offers a strategy for orthography development, combined with a list of resources for Bantu linguistic information and the condensed advice of a coterie of respected Bantu linguistic experts. It offers readability and write-ability considerations whenever applicable. The Manual has a target audience: linguists gathering information for orthography development.

Procedures for a "participatory approach" to phonological analysis are described in one chapter. A series of charts help the linguist document and organize the phonological and morphological information gathered. The Linguistic Features chapter lists common linguistic characteristics of Bantu languages, describes the attendant orthographic challenges, and offers suggested solutions, along with the pedagogical rationale for each.

 
Published  2008
Subjects  Morphophonemics
Phonology
Orthography
Keywords  Bantu, orthography, phonological analysis, morphology, morphophonology, grapheme, noun class, writing tone, readability

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