Ki-Afrika
The Ki-Afrika project aims to document and describe the linguistic diversity of Africa. Two aspects of linguistic diversity are centered: languages that are under-researched, and language phenomena that have traditionally been viewed as peripheral and thus under-researched as well. Led by linguist Dr. Alexander Andrason, this project brings together a wide range of linguists and collaborators in Africa.
In terms of languages being documented, we have been working on more than 30 varieties (Adamawa, Afro-Asiatic, Bantoid, Bantu, Dogon, Kwa, Khoe, Nilotic, and Volta-Niger) spoken across 12 countries (Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Mozambique, Somaliland, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe).
As far as the language phenomena are concerned, we have been studying conative animal calls, interjections, onomatopoeias, gestures, as well as, more recently, vocatives, directives, and attention getters. Since 2022, we have released four grammar sketches: Arusa Maasai, Mingang Doso, Tengukan Dogon, and Tjwao.
We have also written and submitted 18 articles, of which 14 have been published or accepted for publication: 6 on conative animal calls, 5 on onomatopoeias/ideophones, 2 on interjections, and 1 on gestures.
An important element of the Ki-Afrika project is the empowerment of local linguists, through training, collaborative research, and ultimately joint authorship of the grammars and articles published.