THE MANDE and ATLANTIC GROUPS of Niger-CONGO: PROLONGED CONTACT with ASYMMETRICAL CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

The interaction between speakers of Atlantic languages and speakers of Mande languages has pointed in one direction as to (linguistic) influence, namely, from Mande to Atlantic. Why this is true can be explained with reference to historical and cultural factors. Although there are a few exceptions to this directionality, the presumed exceptions actually add further support to these explanations. This paper explores the structural consequences of the contact between Mande and Atlantic and the reasons for this mono-directionality.