CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE PORTUGUESE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BANTU LINGUISTICS BETWEEN 1500 AND 1917

SUMMARY

The contributions made by the Portuguese in establishing Bantu linguistics on the African continent are seldom recognised by both students and scholars in African Linguistics and Literature.

This article endeavours to summarise the role played by the Portuguese over a period of four decades in this regard.

Of particular interest is that the first bit of continuous Bantu we know of, had been documented by Portuguese soldier-explorers and was published in Lisbon in 1624.

The role played by the Jesuits until the end of the seventeenth century may never go unnoticed. They were masters of numerous languages, and carried with them, into the unknown, the Christian faith, “and not seldom suffered martyrdom”.

The nostalgia of “Monomotapa” (the Spanish ‘Eldorado’) comes to life when the oldest documents available on this topic, are studied.

SAMEVATTING

Die bydrae wat die Portugese gelewer het tot die vestiging van die Bantoeïstiek op die Afrika-kontinent word alte dikwels oor die hoof gesien. Die rede hiervoor lê waarskynlik dáárin dat dié onderwerp deur die opstellers van universiteitsleerplanne oor die Bantoeïstiek nie wetenswaardig genoeg geag word nie.

Die Portugese se bydrae strek oor vier dekades. Die onderhawige artikel probeer om dit in 'n handgreep saam te vat.

Vir jongere Bantoeïste behoort dit interessant te wees om te weet dat die eerste gedokumenteerde frase in Bantoe waarvan ons weet deur Portugese ontdekkingsreisigers opgeteken is en in 1624 in Lissabon gepubliseer is.

Die rol wat die Jesuiete priesters tot en met die einde van die sewentiende eeu gespeel het, mag in hierdie verband nie misgekyk word nie. Huile was meesters van vele tale wat sel de met hui lewens daarvan afgekom het.

Die nostalgie van 'n Monomotapa (die Spaanse ‘Eldorado’) herleef wanneer die beskikbare bronne oor die onderwerp fyn gelees word.