Kwa
Let an agent explain the Kwa languages, relay geography, member languages, classification history and features from linguistic sources with debates attributed, describe the named subgroups and flag poorly documented ones, and distinguish Kwa from Volta-Niger, the older broad Kwa grouping, Gur and Kru languages.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the Kwa languages, relay geography, member languages, classification history and features from linguistic sources with debates attributed, describe the named subgroups and flag poorly documented ones, and distinguish Kwa from Volta-Niger, the older broad Kwa grouping, Gur and Kru languages.
A branch of the Niger-Congo languages spoken in West Africa along the coast from Ivory Coast to Nigeria, including major languages such as Akan, Ewe, Ga-Dangme and Baoule, with the registry using Kwa in a modern narrower sense after some languages once included were reassigned; aliases name subgroups and languages such as Nyo, Ga-Dangme, Alladian, Adjukru, Agotime and the poorly documented Esuma, whose status should be checked. Classification of Kwa within Niger-Congo has changed over time and remains debated, with positions attributed, and several Kwa languages have millions of speakers and literary traditions.
What it is for: Classifying related West African coastal languages.
It can be explain geography and members; relay classification history; describe named subgroups; present debates with attribution.
Distinguishing features
Coastal West Africa
Tonal
Revised classification
Some large languages
What it looks like
Not a physical object; shown on language maps of coastal West Africa.
Physical character
major languages: Akan, Ewe, Ga-Dangme, Baoule list
narrower Kwa: after Williamson and Blench revisions note
registry parent: Volta-Congo note
How it is recognised
Niger-Congo branch of coastal West Africa
Alladian, Esuma, Nyo, Ga-Dangme, Agotime, Adjukru
Volta-Niger includes languages once called Kwa; the older broad Kwa was larger; Gur and Kru are neighbouring branches
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
includes -
is contrasted with -
is contrasted with -
In practice
Families and kinds
Nyo languages
Ga-Dangme
Potou-Tano including Akan
lagoon languages such as Alladian and Adjukru
Standards and regulation
ISO 639 codes
National language policies in Ghana and Ivory Coast
Failure modes and hazards
Confusing narrow and broad Kwa
Poorly documented language status
Presenting debated classification as settled
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What Kwa is.
Attribution.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What are the Kwa languages, and how do they differ from Volta-Niger, the older broad Kwa, Gur and Kru? definition
- Is the question about a specific language or classification? boundary
Subgroups
Named subgroups.
Subgroups
Subgroups.
- What are Nyo, Ga-Dangme, Alladian, Adjukru and Agotime, and what is known about Esuma? definition
- Which entry fits the specific language? action
Classification Classification.
Attribution.
History
Classification history.
History
History.
- How did the broad Kwa grouping shrink as languages were reassigned, with views attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Debates
Debates.
Debates
Debates.
- What do linguists debate about Kwa within Niger-Congo, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Languages Member languages.
Sources.
Akan
Akan.
Akan
Akan.
- What is the status of Akan and its dialects in Ghana? provenance
- Which entry fits Akan language? action
Lagoon languages
Lagoon languages.
Lagoon languages
Lagoon languages.
- What are the lagoon languages of Ivory Coast such as Alladian and Adjukru? provenance
- Is the information accurate? boundary
Context Society.
Context.
Literacy
Written traditions.
Literacy
Literacy.
- How are Kwa languages used in education and media? provenance
- Is the information current? boundary
Endangered
Endangered languages.
Endangered
Endangered.
- Which Kwa languages are endangered, as documentation reports? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- The registry alias Esuma is poorly documented and should be reviewed
- Should the older broad Kwa grouping be documented separately?
- How should Glottolog classifications be linked?