Description
During our time together, we will learn about the various unusual sounds used by different African languages, how they are pronounced, and we will discuss why the continent grew to have such a diverse kaleidoscope of languages and phonetic sounds. The continental language families of Africa are studied within four primary groups: Niger-Congo,
Nilo-Saharan, Afroasiatic, and Khoisan.
Led by an expert on linguistics and history, Asya Pereltsvaig, Ph.D., this conversation will explore how the latest technology is used to shed new light on the study of human languages and particular their sounds. Participants will come away with an increased understanding of linguistic diversity within the African continent, home to approximately one-third of the world's languages.
About Your Expert
Asya Pereltsvaig received a PhD in Linguistics from McGill University and has taught at Yale, Cornell and Stanford, as well as in several U.S. and European universities. Her expertise is in language and history, and the relationship between them. Her most recent books, Languages of the World: An Introduction, 3rd edition (2020) and The Indo-European Controversy: Facts and Fallacies in Historical Linguistics (2015) were published by Cambridge University Press.
Audience
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
Duration
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.