Matacoan (also Mataguayan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, MatacoâÂÂMataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.
Family division
Matacoan consists of four clusters of languages: WichÃÂ, Chorote, NivaÃÂle, and Maká. Wichàand Chorote constitute a well-supported clade within the family. It has also been proposed that Maká and NivaÃÂle form a clade, however, NivaÃÂle also shares several innovations with ChoroteâÂÂWichÃÂ, casting doubt on the validity of the MakáâÂÂNivaÃÂle clade.
Gordon (2005) in Ethnologue divides WichÃÂ into three separate languages and Chorote into two languages.
- Matacoan
- WichÃÂ-Chorote
- Wichà(also known as Mataco, Wichi, WichàLhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, WeÃÂwo. The name Mataco is common but pejorative.)
- Vejoz (also known as Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, WichàLhamtés Vejoz)
- Noktén (also known as Noctén, WichàLhamtés Nocten)
- Wiznay (also known as Güisnay, WichàLhamtés Güisnay)
- Matawayo (also known as Matahuayo)
- Chorote (also known as ChorotÃÂ, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)
- Manhui (also known as Manjuy, Manjui, IyoâÂÂwujwa Chorote)
- Eklenhui (also known as Eclenjuy, Eklehui, IyojwaâÂÂja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti)
- (?) Maká-Nivaclé
- Nivaclé (also known as NivaÃÂle, ChulupÃÂâÂÂAshlushlay, ChulupÃÂ, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe. The name Chulupàis common but pejorative.)
- Forest Nivaclé
- River Nivaclé
- Maká (also known as Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, MakâÂÂá, Enimaca, Enimaga)
- MaâÂÂká (also known as Towolhi)
- Enimaga (also known as Enimaa, Kochaboth)
Mason (1950)
Internal classification by Mason (1950):
- Mataco-Maca
- Mataco
- Mataco-Mataguayo
- Mataco
- Guisnay
- Nocten (Octenai)
- Mataguayo
- Northern: Hueshuo, Pesatupe, Abucheta
- Southern: Vejoz
- ChorotÃÂ-Ashluslay
- ChorotÃÂ (Yofuaha)
- Ashluslay (ChulupÃÂ, ChonopÃÂ, Sukin, Sotiagay, Tapieté)
- Macá (Enimagá, Cochaboth, Guaná, Lengua)
- Enimagá
- Macá (Towothli, Toosle)
- Guentusé
- Cochaboth-Lengua
Nikulin & Carol (2024)
Internal classification by Nikulin & Carol (2024):
- Mataguayan
- Maká
- Fisket Ɫeiëets
- Aseptiket Ɫeiëets
- NivaÃÂle
- Chishamnee Lhavos
- Shichaam Lhavos
- Yitaâ Lhavos
- ChoroteâÂÂWichÃÂ
- Chorote
- IyojwaâÂÂajaâÂÂ
- IyoâÂÂawujwaâÂÂâÂÂManjui
- IyoâÂÂawujwaâÂÂ
- Manjui
- Jlimnájnas
- JlawáâÂÂa Wos
- WichÃÂ
- Northwestern WichÃÂ
- âÂÂWeenhayek
- Guisnay (Lower Pilcomayeño)
- Vejoz
- Southeastern WichÃÂ
- Rivadavia
- Lower Bermejeño
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Matacoan languages.
Proto-language
Major reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayo include those by Viegas Barros (2002) (see the corresponding for a list of reconstructions) and Nikulin & Carol (2024).
Animal and plant names
The following reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayan animal and plant names are from Nikulin & Carol (2024).
Abbreviations
- (MN): reflexes only in Maká and Nivaclé, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level
- (ChW): reflexes only in Chorote and WichÃÂ, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level
Invertebrates
Fish
Reptiles and amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Plants
References
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. .
- Fabre, Alain (2005). "Los Mataguayo". (Online version: http://www.ling.fi/Entradas%20diccionario/Dic=Mataguayo.pdf)
External links