VIII Negro languages

Nearly all of the natives tribes have their own language, which is only partially, or not at all, intelligible to the members of the neighbouring tribe. The languages of the Liberian natives may currently be classified within two groups: the Mande and the Kru languages. The Bassa language is indeed very closely related to the Kru language. Strangely enough, and especially for the numbers 1-10, a close relatedness may be observed between the languages of the Kosso, the Vey and the Pessy. Closer down towards the coast, the natives are frequently in touch with the English-speaking Liberians. Some will have been in their service or in the service of Europeans; others have learned to speak English fairly well in the mission schools. The languages of the natives are very well developed, and this is most readily observed at the numerous palavers where the speakers display a quite admirable eloquence. Keywords:Bassa language; English-speaking Liberians; Kru language; Liberian natives; Mande language; Negro languages