Matacoan languages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Matacoan (also Mataguayan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, Mataco-Mataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.

Contents 1 Family division 2 Genetic relations 3 Links 4 Bibliography

[edit] Family division

Matacoan consists of 4 languages:

1. Wichí (a.k.a. Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo)

2. Chorote (a.k.a. Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)

3. Nivaclé (a.k.a. Chulupí-Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe)

4. Maká (a.k.a. Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, Mak’á, Enimaca, Enimaga)

Wichí has 4 regional varieties: (1) Vejoz (a.k.a. Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz), (2) Noktén (a.k.a. Noctén, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten), (3) Wiznay (a.k.a. Güisnay, Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay), and (4) Matawayo (a.k.a. Matahuayo). Gordon (2005) divides Wichí into 3 separate languages. The name Mataco is very common but is pejorative.

Chorote has 2 varieties: (1) Manhui (a.k.a. Manjuy, Iyo’wujwa Chorote) and (2) Eklenhui (a.k.a. Eclenjuy, Eklehui, Iyojwa’ja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti). Gordon (2005) considers these separate languages.

Nivaclé has 2 varieties: (1) Forest Nivaclé and (2) River Nivaclé. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.

Maká has 2 varieties: (1) Ma’ká (a.k.a. Towolhi) and (2) Enimaga (a.k.a. Enimaa, Kochaboth).

[edit] Genetic relations

Morris Swadesh includes Matacoan along with Guaicuruan, Charruan, and Mascoyan within his Macro-Mapuche stock.

Joseph Greenberg places Matacoan within a Mataco-Guaicuru grouping similar to Swadesh's Macro-Mapuche with the exception that his Mataco-Guaicuru also includes Lule-Vilela. Mataco-Guaicuru is then connected with Panoan, Tacanan, and Mosetenan in his larger Macro-Panoan phylum.

Kaufman (1990) suggests that the Matacoan-Guaicuruan-Charruan-Mascoyan-Lule-Vilela proposal deserves to be explored — a grouping which he calls Macro-Waikurúan. Kaufman's (1994) Macro-Waikurúan proposal excludes Lule-Vilela.

[edit] Links

• Ethnologue: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
• Proel: Familia matákoan

[edit] Bibliography

• Adelaar, Willem F. H.; & Muysken, Pieter C. (2004). The languages of the Andes. Cambridge language surveys. Cambridge University Press.
• Campbell, Lyle. (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
• Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (Ed.). (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the world (15th ed.). Dallas, TX: SIL International. ISBN 1-55671-159-X. (Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com).
• Greenberg, Joseph H. (1987). Language in the Americas. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
• Kaufman, Terrence. (1990). Language history in South America: What we know and how to know more. In D. L. Payne (Ed.), Amazonian linguistics: Studies in lowland South American languages (pp. 13-67). Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-2927-0414-3.
• Kaufman, Terrence. (1994). The native languages of South America. In C. Mosley & R. E. Asher (Eds.), Atlas of the world's languages (pp. 46-76). London: Routledge.