The Pelasgian language was Western Niger-Congo, a language related to Bantu. The ba- prefix denotes people (pl) and is seen in the word Pe-lasgian. Pe- is ba- with loss of voice, and vowel change a>e. Compare Minoan PA-RATU, which keeps the a-vowel intact.

Minoan is a Niger-Congo language. Eg Minoan KURO, KIRO = "big total", "small total", from Niger-Congo RO "total" + KU "big", KI "small". MARU "fleece" is from MA- mass prefix + RU "cow".The word was not confined to sheep. Plurals are formed by -RE, -RI, -NE, -NI in Minoan as in Western Niger-Congo. The word PI "child" is from Niger-Congo BI "child, small". At least 100 Minoan words can be identified as Niger-Congo. Eg NAQE = NAMKWE "cow".

The Roman MANES are the African MANI, ancestral spirits, from NI "spirit" + MA mass prefix.

Etruscan is Niger-Congo with a much reduced prefix system. The LARES are from LA "sleep" + RE plural suffix. The original form of this word in Etruscan is LARE. Same root in LASA and LARVA. Etruscan has Niger-Congo plurals (-RE, -RI > R), pronouns MI "I", verb forms (past -CE < Niger-Congo -KE).

A West African system of syllabic signs was used on Crete (Linear A & B) and in Greece. The same system is found on Cyprus and in Philistia. Etruscan was probably also once written in a syllabary.