Malibu languages

The Malibu languages are a poorly attested group of extinct languages once spoken along the Magdalena River in Colombia. Material exists only for two of the numerous languages mentioned in the literature: Malibú and Mocana.

Classification

The Malibu languages have previously been grouped with the Chimila language. However, Chimila is now known to be a Chibchan language, and Adelaar & Muysken regard the grouping of Chimila with the Malibu languages as "without any factual basis".

Family division

Rivet listed three Malibu tribes, each with its own language:

• Malibú, spoken near the Magdalena River from Tamalameque to Tenerife
• Mocaná, spoken by the Mokaná people in the region east of Cartagena (Rivet 1947b; Simón 1882-1892, vol. 4, p. 298, only two words.)
• Pacabuey, also known as Sompallón or Laguna Malibu, spoken near the Zapatoza lagoon (Unattested.)

To this list, Loukotka adds six more languages, all of which are unattested (excluding Chimila):

• Papale, spoken on the Fundación River
• Coanoa or Guanoa, spoken on the Cesar River
• Zamirua, spoken on the Ariguaní River
• Cospique, spoken somewhere in the Department of Magdalena
• Mompox, spoken near the city of Santa Cruz de Mompox (attested per Rivet 1947)
• Calamari, spoken along the coast south of Cartagena to Coveñas

Vocabulary

Rivet gives a brief list of words from Malibú and Mocana. A selection of these is provided below:

• tahana – manzanilla tree
• malibu – chief
• man – small boat
• ytaylaco / yteylaco / yntelas / ytaylas – devil, deity
• entaha / enbutac – cassava

References