Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages


The Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages are a group of Bantu languages established by Anita Pfouts. The Southwest Bantu languages constitute most of Guthrie's Zone R. The languages, or clusters, along with their Guthrie identifications, are:
Though not explicitly classified, Ndombe is presumably SW Bantu, and Mashi, Simaa Kavango. Maho adds Mbowe, Shanjo, and Kwangwa, as well as splitting off several varieties of these as distinct languages, such as Kuvale. However, Mbukushu, Luyana, and Yeyi, sometimes included with these languages, appear to be more divergent lineages of Bantu.
Previous, and more extensive, versions included K10 Chokwe–Luchazi, L10 Pende, L50 Lunda, L60 Nkoya, H21 Kimbundu, the rest of R, and perhaps L21 Kete, L22 Lwalu, H13b Suundi.
Maho differentiates Herero proper, R.31, from North-West Herero, R.311, and Botswana Herero, R.312. Kuvale is moved to zone R.10 as R.101.