A Sketch of Sarwa, a Chadic Minority Language in Central Chad

Abstract

Based on original field work, this paper provides a preliminary characterization of Sarwa, a little-known Chadic language spoken in the Republic of Chad. Following a brief overview of the phonology, this paper covers the grammar of the major word classes of the language and also includes a basic vocabulary. Special attention is given to the verbal ablaut system, a feature inherited from Afro-Asiatic which has been fairly well preserved in this language.