Norbert Cyffer, an emeritus professor, passed away, leaving a significant impact on African language studies, particularly with his extensive research on Kanuri. Spoken by about 10 million people, Kanuri had received little academic attention prior to Cyffer's work. His dedication over four decades involved immersion in Kanuri communities, leading to invaluable language documentation and the creation of a Standard Kanuri Orthography (SKO). Cyffer published influential works, questioning the academic neglect of African languages and emphasizing the need for increased scholarly focus within Europe.
Cyffer pointed out that despite having a comparable number of speakers to Finnish, Kanuri "remains neglected in academic research." This highlights the disparities in linguistic study.
His recordings also shed light on the cultural diversity of Nigeria's border regions with Niger and Chad, showcasing the richness of the Kanuri language and the communities that speak it.
During Cyffer's time in Nigeria, he played a crucial role in developing the first Standard Kanuri Orthography (SKO), which continues to serve as a linguistic benchmark.
Cyffer's contributions enriched linguistic scholarship and raised important questions about the future of African language studies in Europe and how they are perceived.
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