Bangime: secret language, language isolate, or language island? A computer?assisted case study


 We report the results of a qualitative and quantitative lexical comparison between Bangime neighboring languages. Our indicate that status language as an isolate remains viable, speakers have had different levels contact with other Malian populations at various points throughout their history. speakers, Bangande, claim Dogon ancestry. The Bangande portray this connection to through fact has both recent borrowings from varieties more rooted vocabulary languages spoken east whence come. Evidence multilayered long?term is clear: items even permeated core vocabulary. However, strikingly, are seemingly unaware not intelligible any variety. hope our fiindings will influence future studies on reconstruction shed light mysterious history its speakers.