Layers of Lexical Borrowing in Long-Term Contact Rooted among Ancient Crops from Mali’s Bandiagara Region

Research reveals that the linguistic landscape of Mali's Bandiagara Region, home to six distinct language groups, has been shaped by layers of lexical borrowing over centuries. The study suggests that current plant-related vocabulary shares deeper connections with ancient botanical knowledge, likely influenced by early agricultural practices such as pearl millet domestication around 5,000 years ago. This long-term contact is further linked to the Mande Expansion and West African trade routes, indicating a complex history of cultural exchange rooted in the region's fertile terrain and defensible geography.

Hantgan, A. (2024). Layers of Lexical Borrowing in Long-Term Contact Rooted among Ancient Crops from Mali’s Bandiagara Region. Journal of Language Contact, 16(4), 494–564. https://doi.org/10.1163/19552629-01604003