Tequistlatecan languages

Language group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tequistlatecan languages, also called Chontal, are three close but distinct languages spoken or once spoken by the Chontal people of Oaxaca State, Mexico.

Geographic
distributionOaxaca
Native speakers
5,600 (not counting 1,700 speakers of unidentified "Chontal") (2020 census)[1]
Linguistic classificationHokan ?
  • Tequistlatecan–Tolan ?
    • Tequistlatec
Subdivisions
  • Highland Chontal
  • Coastal Chontal
Quick facts Tequistlatec, Geographic distribution ...
Tequistlatec
Chontal
Geographic
distribution		Oaxaca
Native speakers
5,600 (not counting 1,700 speakers of unidentified "Chontal") (2020 census)[1]
Linguistic classificationHokan ?
  • Tequistlatecan–Tolan ?
    • Tequistlatec
Subdivisions
  • Highland Chontal
  • Coastal Chontal
Language codes
Glottologtequ1244
The Tequistlatecan languages are in Mexico at the left of the map.
Close

Chontal was spoken by 6,000 or so people in 2020.[1]

Languages

The Tequistlatecan languages are:

Name

Although most authors use the form tequistlatec(an) today, this is based on an improper derivation in Nahuatl (the correct derivation from Tequisistlán would be Tequisistec(an), and both terms were used by Sapir interchangeably).

Classification

The Tequistlatecan languages are part of the proposed Hokan family, but are often considered to be a distinct family. Campbell and Oltrogge (1980) proposed that the Tequistlatecan languages may be related to Jicaquean (see Tolatecan), but this hypothesis has not been generally accepted.

Notes

References

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