Toba-Maskoy language

Mascoian language of northern Paraguay From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maskoy, or Toba-Maskoy, is one of several languages of the Paraguayan Chaco (particularly in the northern region of Paraguay) called Toba. It is spoken on a reservation near Puerto Victoria. Toba-Maskoy is currently a threatened language at risk of becoming an extinct language, due to the low number of native speakers.

NativetoParaguay
Ethnicity2,100 (2007)[1]
Native speakers
1,700 (2007)[1]
Quick facts Maskoy, Native to ...
Maskoy
Toba
Native toParaguay
Ethnicity2,100 (2007)[1]
Native speakers
1,700 (2007)[1]
Mascoian
  • Maskoy
Language codes
ISO 639-3tmf
Glottologtoba1268
ELPEnenlhet
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History

Toba-Maskoy originates from Paraguay, specifically in the Chaco region of the Alto Paraguay department.[2]

It is believed that around 1870 some Toba chiefs immigrated from Argentina escaping constant victimization of their peoples, thus settling in Alto Paraguay. Since that transitional period, the language suffered both linguistically and culturally.[3] To this day it is rare to find grammar or writings in Toba-Maskoy due to a significant loss of language among the Toba.[citation needed]

Geographic distribution

Toba-Maskoy is spoken near Puerto Victoria, in the north of Paraguay.

Official Status

Though Toba-Maskoy is not an official language of Paraguay, it is well known in the northern part of El Chaco.

Classification

Toba-Maskoy is one of the five members of the Maskoy linguistic family, the other four include: Angaite, Enxet, Kaskiha, and Sanapaná.[4]

Number system

The below table shows the Toba number system, which has separate words for and all other numbers being composites of these words. According to Closs,[5] the number 1 is always used in terms of addition.

While the number is derived from the word "equals", which indicates the understanding of the concept of 2- groupings. Multiplication in the Toba Number system only occurs in the form of doubling, however this number system demonstrates the understanding of additive and basic multiplicative properties.

More information , ...
Toba numbers[5][6]
Decimal Number Toba Notes
1 nathedac
2 cacyni, nivoca
3 cacaynilia 2+lia
4 nalotapegat 'equals'
5 nivoca cacainilia
6 cacayni cacynilia
7 nathedac cacayni cacaynilia
8 nivoca nalotapegat
9 nivoca nalotapegat nathedac
10 cacayni nivoca nalotapegat
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References

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