ABSTRACT
A scheme of Classification must precede any intelligible attempt to describe the Languages of a Continent, but a limitation of the subject must precede the Classification : I have already reduced Africa Geographically by the exclusion of certain Islands, and I now propose to reduce the Continent by the exclusion of a portion of the subject-matter. My title is “The Modern Languages of Africa” : now each of the three words excludes a certain portion of what might possibly be looked for : the word Modern excludes the Extinct and Dead Languages : the word Africa excludes those Languages of Europe and Asia, which, though extensively used within the area, are not yet domiciled, or, if technically domiciled, cannot be treated of with any advantage here ; the word Language excludes those composite Jargons, which are so rapidly and extensively forming along the Coast, and yet are not recognized as Languages. Although these three Classes are excluded from the Classification, it may be well to say a few words on each.
