Mel has traditionally been classified as the bulk of a southern branch of a
West Atlantic branch of Niger–Congo. However, these are geographic and typological rather than genealogical groups;
Segerer (2010) shows that there is no exclusive relationship between Mel and the other southern languages,
Sua (Mansoanka) and
Gola. •
Mel • Temne •
Temne •
Baga languages • Bullom–Kissi •
Bullom languages •
Kissi Fields (2004) splits Mel into a
Highlands group originating in Guinea, and also a
Bullom-Kisi-Gola group. •
Mel • Bullom-Kisi-Gola •
Gola • Bullom-Kisi •
Bullom •
Kisi • Highlands •
Temne •
Landuma •
Sitem Fields (2008:83) proposes that the homeland of Proto-Mel is located in the north-central highlands of
Sierra Leone just to the south of the Lesser
Scarcies River, rather than on the coast. The homeland of Proto-Highlands is located along the middle stretches of the
Konkoure River in Guinea, just to the northeast of
Conakry (Fields 2008:85). ==Comparative vocabulary==