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The Language-Families of Africa
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Historical SummaryIt was forbidden to speak to a banished man forever after, but the survival of a sentiment of unity was shown in a form of oratio obliqua. Upon meeting, the sib member might address perhaps a tree, saying, "Good morning, msesewe tree," and the other would reply, "The msesewe tree thanks you." In an emergency also a banished man may be rescued but without direct contact:
On perhaps a war expedition someone says, "Your banished sibman is lying back there and dying." The man notified goes and finds him. Within seeing distance he opens his bag, ceremoniously divides his food and leaves half on the roadside. On leaving he sings . . . "Kirie bird, kindness continues in hunger." . . . To speak of this action is not appropriate on either side, but the rescued man will express gratitude. He slaughters an animal and wraps a hindquarter in banana leaves. During the night he carries it to the hut of his rescuer and leaves it before the door. When some distance away he sings a song closing with the words, "Listen, lelele, it is I who am speaking" (237–238).
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Chicago:
"The Language-Families of Africa," The Language-Families of Africa in Primitive Behavior: An Introduction to the Social Sciences, ed. Thomas, William I. (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1937), Original Sources, accessed July 12, 2025, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=7R7UGQPC4RX495Z.
MLA:
. "The Language-Families of Africa." The Language-Families of Africa, in Primitive Behavior: An Introduction to the Social Sciences, edited by Thomas, William I., New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1937, Original Sources. 12 Jul. 2025. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=7R7UGQPC4RX495Z.
Harvard:
, 'The Language-Families of Africa' in The Language-Families of Africa. cited in 1937, Primitive Behavior: An Introduction to the Social Sciences, ed. , McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York. Original Sources, retrieved 12 July 2025, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=7R7UGQPC4RX495Z.
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