Langenesis

Niger-Congo family

Northern Ndebele

c. 1830 CE – today Living

Northern Ndebele (c. 1830 CE – today) is a living Niger-Congo language. Lineage: Proto-Niger-Congo → Proto-Atlantic-Congo → … → Proto-Nguni → Zulu → Northern Ndebele.

See Northern Ndebele on the interactive map
Speakers
1.6M (1,600,000)
ISO 639-3
nde

Nguni language of Zimbabwe, brought from Zululand by Mzilikazi's followers in the 1820s-30s; very close to Zulu. Distinct from Southern Ndebele of South Africa.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Niger-Congoc. 10,000 BCE – 7,000 BCE
  2. Proto-Atlantic-Congoc. 7,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE
  3. Proto-Benue-Congoc. 5,000 BCE – 3,500 BCE
  4. Proto-Bantuc. 3,000 BCE – 1,000 BCE
  5. Proto-Ngunic. 500 CE – 1500 CE
  6. Zulu1500 CE – today
  7. Northern Ndebelec. 1830 CE – today

Sources