Lexico-phonological comparative analysis of selected dialects of the Meru-Tharaka group - Band 23

This study is an investigation into the comparative phonology and lexicon of six barely-known Bantu varieties spoken in Kenya.

These varieties (Imenti, Igoji, Tharaka, Mwimbi, Muthambi and Chuka) belong to the so-called Meru group.

The study develops a new classification of these six dialects.

Therefore, a dialectological approach is used, which includes the analysis of wordlists and lists of short phrases elicited in the field.

From the data, isoglosses and similarities concerning morpho-phonological processes are drawn.

The results show in which respects the dialects differ from each other.

Thus, the present work contributes to comparative Bantu linguistics.