![]() | This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. (July 2021) |
Kwa | |
---|---|
New Kwa | |
Geographic distribution | Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Togo |
Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
Subdivisions | |
Glottolog | kwav1236 |
![]() Map showing the distribution of Niger–Congo languages. Light green is the Kwa subfamily. |
The Kwa languages, often specified as New Kwa, are a proposed but as-yet-undemonstrated family of languages spoken in the south-eastern part of Ivory Coast, across southern and central Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The Kwa family belongs to the Niger-Congo phylum. The name was introduced in 1895 by Gottlob Krause and derives from the word for 'people' (Kwa) in many of these languages, as illustrated by Akan names. This branch consists of around 50 different languages spoken by about 25 million people. Some of the largest Kwa languages are Ewe, Akan and Baule.