The Araucanian languages are a small language family of indigenous languages of the Americas spoken in central Chile and neighboring areas of Argentina. The living representatives of this family are Mapudungun (ISO 639-3: arn) and Huilliche (ISO 639-3: huh), spoken respectively by the Mapuche and Huilliche people. These are usually considered divergent dialects of a single language isolate.
Demographics
It is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 Mapudungun speakers in Chile and 40,000 speakers in Argentina. Huilliche is the native language of a few thousand Chileans.
Language contact
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Kunza, Mochika, Uru-Chipaya, Arawak, Pano, Cholon-Hibito, and Kechua language families due to contact.
Internal classification
Mason (1950)
Internal classification of Araucanian languages by Mason (1950):
- Araucanian
- North
- Picunche
- Mapuche
- Pewenche
- Rankel(che)
- Moluche
- South
- Wiliche (Huilliche)
- Wiliche
- Serrano
- Pichi-Wiliche
- Manzanero
- Veliche (Chilote)
- Chikiyami (Cuncho)
- Leuvuche
- East
- Taluhet (Taluche)
- Divihet (Diviche)
Jolkesky (2016)
Internal classification by Jolkesky (2016):
( = extinct)
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for Mapuche (Araucanian) language varieties.
Further reading
- Augusta, F. J. (1966). Diccionario araucano-español y español-araucano: tomo primero: araucano - español. Padre Las Casas: Impr. y Editorial "San Francisco".
- Cañas Pinochet, A. (1911). Estudios de la lengua veliche. In: C. E. Porter (ed.), Trabajos de la III Sección âÂÂCiencias Naturales, Antropo-lógicas y Etnológicasâ (Tomo I), 143-330. Santiago de Chile: Imprenta Barcelona.
- Erize, E. (1960). Diccionario comentado Mapuche-Español, Araucano, Pehuenche, Pampa, Picunche, Rancülche, Huilliches. BahÃÂa Blanca: Cuadernos del Sur.
- Flury, L. (1944). Guiliches: tradiciones, leyendas, apuntes gramaticales y vocabulario de la zona pampa-araucana. (Publicaciones del Instituto de ArqueologÃÂa, Lingüistica y Folklore Dr. Pablo Cabrera, 8). Córdoba: Universidad de Córdoba
- Hernández Sallés, A.; Luna, C. C. (1997). Diccionario ilustrado Mapudungun- Español-Inglés. Santiago de Chile: Pehuén.
References
External links