In 1933 a Short Guide to the Recording of African Languages was published as a Supplement to Africa in response to many requests for a publication of the kind. It later appeared as Memorandum XI in the series published by the Institute in connexion with the Journal. The Guide was intended as a first step towards the systematic recording of African languages, and in particular of those about which little or nothing is known. It has been widely used in Africa, both for practical purposes and for the scientific studies of research workers. A number of people have sent to the Institute material collected in this way and a list of the languages so recorded is given here.