Central Tano languages

Niger–Congo language subgroup of West Africa

Central Tano

Akan
Geographic
distribution| Ghana, Ivory Coast
Linguistic classification| Niger–Congo?

* Atlantic–Congo
* Volta–Congo
* Kwa
* Potou–Tano
* Tano
* Central Tano

Subdivisions|

* Bia
* Akan

Language codes
ISO 639-3| –
Glottolog| `cent2262`

The Central Tano or Akan languages are a pair of dialect clusters of the Niger-Congo family (or perhaps the theorised Kwa languages[1]) spoken in Ghana and Ivory Coast by the Akan people.

There are two or three languages, each with dialects that are sometimes treated as languages themselves:[2][3]

* Akan language (primarily in Ghana)[4]
* Akuapem
* Asante
* Bono
* Fante
* Wasa
* Bia (primarily in Ivory Coast and Western Ghana)
* Northern Bia language
* Anyin dialect
* Baoulé dialect
* Chakosi (Anufo) dialect
* Sefwi (Sehwi) dialect
* Southern Bia language
* Nzema dialect
* Ahanta dialect
* Jwira–Pepesa dialect

All have written forms in the Latin script.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ameka, Felix K.; Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp (2008). Aspect and Modality in Kwa Languages. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 978-90-272-0567-4., p. 4
2. ^ Stewart, John M. 1989. Kwa. In Bendor-Samuel, John (ed.), The Niger-Congo Languages, 216-245. University Press of America & SIL. p. 225.
3. ^ Dolphyne, Florence Abena (1986) The languages of the Akan peoples. Research review. Vol. 2 No. 1, Pages 1-22[1] University of Ghana. p. 15.
4. ^ "The languages of the Akan peoples". d.lib.msu.edu. pp. 12, 18. Retrieved 2025-04-12.

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Kwa languages

Potou–Tano|

| Central Tano|

* Ahanta
* Akan
* Asante
* Akuapem
* Fante
* Bono
* Anyin
* Baoulé
* Chakosi
* Jwira–Pepesa
* Morofo
* Nzema
* Sefwi
* Wasa

|

Guang|

* Cherepon
* Chumburung
* Dwang
* Efutu
* Foodo
* Gua
* Kyode
* Larteh
* Ginyanga
* Gonja
* Kplang
* Krache
* Nawuri
* Nchumbulu
* Nkami
* Nkonya
* Ntrapo

Others|

* Abure
* Ebrié
* Eotile
* Krobu
* Mbato

Ghana–Togo|

| Na-Togo|

* Adele
* Basila
* Lelemi
* Likpe
* Logba
* Santrokofi
* Siwu

|

Ka-Togo|

* Ahlon
* Akebu
* Animere
* Avatime
* Bowili
* Kposo
* Nyangbo-Tafi

Ga–Dangme|

* Ga
* Dangme

Lagoon|

* Abé
* Abidji
* Adjukru
* Attié
* Avikam–Alladian
* Alladian
* Avikam
* Ega?

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