The belief in a connection between Africans and the Biblical Ham, which had existed at least as far back as Isidore of Seville in the 6th century AD, led scholars in the early 19th century to speak vaguely of "Hamian" or "Hamitish" languages.
ðə bᵻlˈiːf ɪn ɐ kənˈɛkʃən bᵻtwˌiːn ˈæfɹɪkənz ænd ðə bˈɪblɪkəl hˈæm, wˌɪtʃ hæd ɛɡzˈɪstᵻd æt lˈiːst æz fˈɑːɹ bˈæk æz ˈɪsɪdˌoːɹ ʌv səvˈɪl ɪnðə sˈɪksθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi ˌeɪdˈiː, lˈɛd skˈɑːlɚz ɪnðɪ ˈɜːli nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi tə spˈiːk vˈeɪɡli ʌv "hˈæmiən" ɔːɹ "hˈæmɪɾɪʃ" lˈæŋɡwɪdʒᵻz.