Guaicaro language
Extinct language of Patagonia, Chile
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Guaicaro (Guaïcaro) is an extinct, unclassified language of Patagonia known only from a 19-word list and personal names.
The Guaicaro people apparently lived on the Brunswick Peninsula, bordering the Tehuelche to their northeast in around Laguna Blanca.
The Guaicaros (also rendered Guaïkaros, Guaicurúes, Huacurúes) were apparently the same people known as the Huemules (Güemules) and Supalios.[1]
Classification
It is only known from personal names and a list of 19 words elicited using gestures from the last documented speaker, a medicine man living among the Tehuelche, and published in 1896. Most of the words can be explained as Central Alacaluf or Tawókser (or both), though mer 'arm' appears to come from Chon.
Vocabulary
Word list of Guaicaro documented by Ramón Lista (1896):[2]
Spanish gloss English gloss Guaicaro fuego fire charcuish viento wind lefeskar nube cloud arkayeta hombre man pellieri mujer woman esnatun ojos eyes têl ó téel boca mouth asfjestail nariz nose huicharek cabeza head hurkúar perro dog shalki pescado fish yaulchel leña firewood kekásh mano hand teregua dedo finger fol karjk brazo arm merr dientes teeth lefeskar pelo hair tercóf cantar sing lektan llorar cry etkastal