ABSTRACT
Before the problem of classification can be discussed, it is clearly necessary to determine what is meant by the term Bantu. Fortunately from the time this name was first introduced it has chiefly been applied to linguistic rather than to ethnological facts. It is interesting to reflect that Bleek did not attempt any close definition of the term Bantu, contenting himself with what he termed the 'main distinctive features' of the languages. Johnstone, in the work already referred to, sets out twelve propositions of his own 'to define the special or peculiar features of the Bantu languages', at the same time as showing why he does not accept the propositions of Lepsius. It is necessary to divide into two groups the criteria to be used for identifying languages as Bantu. This is because there are some languages in which contraction and attrition have to be postulated to such an extent that it becomes extremely difficult to apply some criteria.
