Matacoan languages
Language family of South America
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matacoan (also Mataguayan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, Mataco–Mataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.
Geographic
distributionChaco region
distributionChaco region
Linguistic classificationMataco–Guaicuru ?
- Matákoan
| Matákoan | |
|---|---|
| Mataguayo | |
| Geographic distribution | Chaco region |
| Linguistic classification | Mataco–Guaicuru ?
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | mata1289 |
| |
Family division
Matacoan consists of four clusters of languages: Wichí, Chorote, Nivaĉle, and Maká. Wichí and Chorote constitute a well-supported clade within the family.[1] It has also been proposed that Maká and Nivaĉle form a clade,[2][3] however, Nivaĉle also shares several innovations with Chorote–Wichí, casting doubt on the validity of the Maká–Nivaĉle clade.[4]
Gordon (2005) in Ethnologue divides Wichí into three separate languages and Chorote into two languages.
- Matacoan
- Wichí-Chorote
- Wichí (also known as Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo. The name Mataco is common but pejorative.)
- Vejoz (also known as Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz)
- Noktén (also known as Noctén, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten)
- Wiznay (also known as Güisnay, Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay)
- Matawayo (also known as Matahuayo)
- Chorote (also known as Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)
- Manhui (also known as Manjuy, Manjui, Iyo’wujwa Chorote)
- Eklenhui (also known as Eclenjuy, Eklehui, Iyojwa’ja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti)
- Wichí (also known as Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo. The name Mataco is common but pejorative.)
- (?) Maká-Nivaclé
- Nivaclé (also known as Nivaĉle, Chulupí–Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.)
- Forest Nivaclé
- River Nivaclé
- Maká (also known as Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, Mak’á, Enimaca, Enimaga)
- Ma’ká (also known as Towolhi)
- Enimaga (also known as Enimaa, Kochaboth)
- Nivaclé (also known as Nivaĉle, Chulupí–Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.)
- Wichí-Chorote
Mason (1950)
Internal classification by Mason (1950):[5]
- Mataco-Maca
- Mataco
- Mataco-Mataguayo
- Mataco
- Guisnay
- Nocten (Octenai)
- Mataguayo
- Northern: Hueshuo, Pesatupe, Abucheta
- Southern: Vejoz
- Mataco
- Chorotí-Ashluslay
- Chorotí (Yofuaha)
- Ashluslay (Chulupí, Chonopí, Sukin, Sotiagay, Tapieté)
- Mataco-Mataguayo
- Macá (Enimagá, Cochaboth, Guaná, Lengua)
- Enimagá
- Macá (Towothli, Toosle)
- Guentusé
- Cochaboth-Lengua
- Enimagá
- Mataco
Nikulin & Carol (2024)
Internal classification by Nikulin & Carol (2024):[6]
- Mataguayan
- Maká
- Fisket Ɫeiɫets
- Aseptiket Ɫeiɫets
- Nivaĉle
- Chishamnee Lhavos
- Shichaam Lhavos
- Yita’ Lhavos
- Chorote–Wichí
- Chorote
- Iyojwa’aja’
- Iyo’awujwa’–Manjui
- Iyo’awujwa’
- Manjui
- Jlimnájnas
- Jlawá’a Wos
- Wichí
- Northwestern Wichí
- ’Weenhayek
- Guisnay (Lower Pilcomayeño)
- Vejoz
- Southeastern Wichí
- Rivadavia
- Lower Bermejeño
- Northwestern Wichí
- Chorote
- Maká
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Matacoan languages.[7]
| gloss | Choroti | Choropí | Suhín | Sotsiagay | Ashlusláy | Mataco | Vejoz | Nocten | Guisnai | Enimaga | Makká |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| head | sétek | satík | shutich | shatish | nu-xleték | litek | etek | oːn-sleták | in-hitla | ||
| tooth | sá-hue | huetseːute | tsaute | seuté | no-tsoté | no-chete | zoté | oːs-totéʔi | kon-xeti | ||
| water | inát | naːʔate | inaat | inaːat | inát | inót | guag | inat | inát | gualé | iwalü |
| fire | houat | itox | itox | itox | itóx | itóx | itag | ütax | etáx | feit | fat |
| sun | kilé | nʔkoklái | hankuklai | fünchokʔlaai | fingoklai | xuála | ixuala | ixuala | ixuála | tátla | xunnu |
| moon | huelä | xuékla | hiuerkla | xiwekla | huela | ihuälä | iguelach | iguelä | ivaʔedla | xuwãl | |
| star | katés | katés | katéss | katís | katäs | katés | ketes | foʔoteki | |||
| dog | nóo | nuuːx | niuʔux | niuʔux | níu | sidnóx | signag | esinax | atsüná | nunnax | |
| jaguar | ayä | yaáx | yáox | yáʔox | iyox | haiyüx | yag | eyax | haróx | kometenax | |
| black | lämi | klím | klim | lim | palüx | pelag | peláx | fo |
Proto-language
Major reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayo include those by Viegas Barros (2002)[8] (see the corresponding Spanish article for a list of reconstructions) and Nikulin & Carol (2024).[9]
Animal and plant names
The following reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayan animal and plant names are from Nikulin & Carol (2024).[9]
- Abbreviations
- (MN): reflexes only in Maká and Nivaclé, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level
- (ChW): reflexes only in Chorote and Wichí, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level
Invertebrates
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *ɸátsu(ˀ)χ, *ɸátshu-ts | ‘centipede’ | |
| *ɸínä(ˀ)χ | ‘crab’ | |
| *ɸiˀs | ‘leech’ | |
| *ɸít’i(ʔ) ~ *ɸít’ih | ‘dragonfly’ | |
| *lǻp’ih ~ *lǻɸ’ih | ‘snail’ | |
| *(-)ɬaʔ, *(-)ɬá-ts | ‘louse’ | |
| *ɬeɬ | ‘white snail’ | |
| *ˀwóså(ˀ)q ~ *ˀwóså(ˀ)k | ‘butterfly’ | |
| *ʔǻnitih | ‘wasp sp.’ | |
| *ʔéjaʔ (*-l) | ‘mosquito’ | |
| *ɸánhaʔ ~ *ɸä́nhaʔ (*-jʰ) | ‘locust’ | (MN) |
| *sålå(ˀ)l, *sålål-its | ‘middle-sized cicada’ | (MN) |
| *ɸ(u)nájXV(ˀ)j | ‘earthworm, amphisbaenian’ | (ChW) |
| *kóˀl | ‘locust’ | (ChW) |
| *wóna(ʔ) | ‘bala wasp (Polybia ruficeps) honey(comb); hat’ | (ChW) |
Fish
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *pxúse-naˀχ | ‘bearded; gilded catfish’ | |
| *k’unhate-nhaʔ (*-jʰ) | ‘pacu fish’ | (MN) |
| *sijå(ˀ)χ, *sijåχ-its | ‘fish sp.’ | (MN) |
| *(ˀ)wǻnaˀχ, *(ˀ)wǻnha-ts | ‘piranha’ | (MN) |
| *ʔutsi(h) (*-l) | ‘marbled swamp eel’ | (MN) |
| *ʔatsXa(ʔ), *ʔatsXá-l | ‘dorado’ | (ChW) |
Reptiles and amphibians
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *tós (*-its) | ‘snake’ | |
| *ʔáɬu(ʔ) (*-ts) | ‘iguana’ | |
| *ʔáɬu-taχ, *ʔáɬu-ta-ts | ‘alligator’ | |
| *ʔatuˀχ ~ *ʔatúˀχ | ‘snake sp.’ | |
| *ʔåˀlå | ‘South American rattlesnake; caninana’ | |
| *ʔåˀlǻ-taχ | ‘Argentine boa’ | |
| *ɸaxi(ˀ)j ~ *ɸäxi(ˀ)j | ‘green ameiva (Ameiva ameiva)’ | (MN) |
| *káˀlah, *káˀla-ts | ‘lizard’ | (ChW) |
| *ktáˀnih, *ktáˀni-ts | ‘Chaco tortoise’ | (ChW) |
| *s’ǻm (*-its) | ‘frog sp.’ | |
| *pǻˀjih | ‘frog (Leptodactylus sp.)’ | (ChW) |
| *tǻtsna(ˀ)X₁₂ ~ *tǻtsne(ˀ)χ | ‘toad’ | (ChW) |
Birds
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *ɸaʔáj (fruit); *ɸaʔáj-uˀk, *ɸaʔáj-ku-jʰ (tree) | ‘white algarrobo (Prosopis alba)’ | |
| *jit’åʔ, *jit’ǻ-l | ‘turkey vulture’ | |
| *kijápo(ˀ)p ?~ *k’ijápo(ˀ)p | ‘common potoo (Nyctibius griseus)’ | |
| *k’å ~ *k’ǻ | ‘variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)’ | |
| *k’ék’eh | ‘monk parakeet’ | |
| *k’ú(t)sta(ˀ)χ, *k’ú(t)sta-ts | ‘American barn owl (Tyto furcata)’ | |
| *mijó (*-l) | ‘savannah hawk’ | |
| *ˀmók (*-its) | ‘creamy-bellied thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)’ | |
| *pǻnhajeχ ~ *pånhájeχ ~ *pånhajéχ | ‘neotropic cormorant’ | |
| *påttséχ | ‘jabiru’ | |
| *pí(t)staʔ | ‘masked gnatcatcher’ | |
| *sát’a(ˀ)(t)s | ‘parakeet sp.’ | |
| *stwúˀn, *stwún-its | ‘king vulture’ | |
| *tilVχ ~ *tílVχ ~ *tilV́χ | ‘white woodpecker’ | |
| *túsu(ˀ)(t)s | ‘lesser yellowlegs’ | |
| *t’isåʔ ~ *t’isǻʔ (*-l) | ‘cream-backed woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon)’ | |
| *tsåhǻq (*-its) | ‘chajá bird’ | |
| *tsijáʔ ?~ *ts’ijáʔ | ‘caracara (Milvago sp.)’ | |
| *tsiwáɬqoɬ | ‘little nightjar (Setopagis parvula)’ | |
| *tsoˀm ~ *tsóˀm | ‘plush-crested jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)’ | |
| *ts’áts’ih, *ts’áts’i-l | ‘rufous hornero’ | |
| *ˀwǻnXåɬåχ, *ˀwǻnXåɬå-ts | ‘rhea’ | |
| *xókhajeχ | ‘Muscovy duck’ | |
| *(ʔa)X₁₃útsa(ˀ)χ, *(ʔa)X₁₃útsha-ts | ‘crested caracara’ | |
| *ʔáp’a(ˀ)χ ~ *ʔáɸ’a(ˀ)χ | ‘jararaca’ | |
| *ʔáxaʔ | ‘stork’ | |
| *ʔéle(ʔ) | ‘parrot’ | |
| *ʔóɸoʔ (*-ts) | ‘picazuro pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro)’ | |
| *ʔúlʔåh, *ʔúlʔå-ts | ‘dove (Columbina sp.)’ | |
| *jinqå-(ju)ˀk, *jinqå-ku-jʰ (tree); *jinqåˀ-p, *jinqå-p-its (season) | ‘white algarrobo (Prosopis alba)’ | (MN) |
| *kómiʔ | ‘Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)’ | (MN) |
| *teχ (*-its) | ‘parrot sp.’ | (MN) |
| *på(ˀ)q | ‘kind of zorzal (Turdus sp.)’ | (ChW) |
| *qatsíwo(ʔ) | ‘limpkin’ | (ChW) |
| *silóʔtåɸV(ʔ) ?~ *siwóʔtåɸe(ʔ) | ‘Caatinga puffbird’ | (ChW) |
| *spú(ˀ)p | ‘dove’ | (ChW) |
| *stǻɸe(ʔ) | ‘Chaco chachalaca’ | (ChW) |
| *wóp’ih ~ *wóɸ’ih ?~ *móp’ih ~ *móɸ’ih | ‘snowy egret, great egret’ | (ChW) |
| *wósak’V(ˀ)t | ‘red-crested cardinal’ | (ChW) |
Mammals
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *jiˀjåˀX₁₂ | ‘jaguar’ | |
| *kɸá(t)s’i(ʔ) | ‘Molina's hog-nosed skunk’ | |
| *k’alxó, *k’alxó-ts | ‘southern three-banded armadillo’ | |
| *ˀlä́jX₂₃VnåX₁₃å | ‘Azara's night monkey’ | |
| *me(ʔ) ~ *mé(ʔ) | ‘otter’ | |
| *núʔuh, *núʔu-ts | ‘dog’ | |
| *ˀnjǻnxteʔ | ‘Chacoan mara (cavy), tapeti’ | |
| *slǻqha(ˀ)j, *slǻqhaj-its | ‘wild cat’ | |
| *sˀwúla(ˀ)χ, *sˀwúla-ts | ‘anteater’ | |
| *tänúk (*-its) | ‘feline’ (‘cat’ in the contemporary languages) | |
| *xéjåʔ (*-l) | ‘bat’ | |
| *ʔámʔåh, *ʔámʔå-ts | ‘rat’ | |
| *ʔáqåtse(ˀ)χ | ‘kind of armadillo’ | |
| *ʔáwu(C)tseχ | ‘Chacoan peccary; collared peccary’ | |
| *ʔuwáɬe(ˀ)χ ?~ *C’uwáɬe(ˀ)χ | ‘puma’ | |
| *ʔVláʔah, *ʔVláʔa-ts | ‘lesser grison’ | |
| *ʔåɸínaˀχ, *ʔåɸínha-ts | ‘black howler’ | (MN) |
| *him (*-its) | ‘coati’ | (MN) |
| *jiʔixåtaχ, *jiʔixåta-ts | ‘ocelot’ | (MN) |
| *(ˀ)wawo(h) (*-l) | ‘maned wolf’ | (MN) |
| *(ˀ)wq’am ~ *(ˀ)wq’äm | ‘white-eared opossum’ | (MN) |
| *ʔåχtinaˀχ, *ʔåχtinha-ts | ‘marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)’ | (MN) |
| *ʔujhVl | ‘otter sp.’ | (MN) |
| *níltsa(ˀ)X₁₂, *níltsX₁₃a-ts | ‘white-lipped peccary’ | (ChW) |
| *Xmáwoh; *Xmáwo-taχ, *Xmáwo-ta-ts | ‘fox’ | (ChW) |
Plants
| Proto-Mataguayan | Gloss | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *ɸtsǻna(ˀ)χ | ‘Baccharis sp.’ | |
| *ɸts-uˀk, collective *ɸis-kat | ‘Copernicia alba palm’ | |
| *kéɬχa-juˀk, *kéɬχa-jku-jʰ | ‘red quebracho (Schinopsis balansae)’ | |
| *khǻt (fruit); *khǻt-uˀk, *khǻt-ku-jʰ (plant) | ‘cactus’ | |
| *lä́tseni(ʔ) (fruit); *lä́tsen-uˀk, *lä́tsen-ku-jʰ (tree) | ‘chañar (Geoffroea decorticans)’ | |
| *lóta-(ju)ˀk | ‘iscayante tree (for making bows)’ | |
| *náwa(ˀ)x | ‘cactus sp.’ | |
| *néwo(ˀ)k | ‘wild manioc (Marsdenia castillonii)’ | |
| *sát-uˀk, *sát-ku-jʰ | ‘lecherón tree (Sapium haematospermum)’ | |
| *sóp’wa(-ta)-juˀk, *sóp’wa(-ta)-jku-jʰ | ‘caspi zapallo (Pisonia zapallo)’ | |
| *sténi(ʔ) (fruit); *stén-uˀk (tree) | ‘white quebracho (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco)’ | |
| *tsänúˀk | ‘duraznillo (Ruprechtia triflora)’ | |
| *tsóɸa (fruit) | ‘Maytenus vitis-idaea’ | |
| *tsóɸa-taχ (fruit); *tsóɸa-ta-(ju)ˀk (tree) | ‘Lycium americanum’ | |
| *wák’a(ʔ) (fruit); *wák’a-juˀk, *wák’a-jku-jʰ (tree) | ‘guayacán (Libidibia paraguariensis)’ | |
| *wátå(ˀ)χ (fruit); *wáth(å-j)uˀk (tree) | ‘palo flojo (Albizia inundata or Enterolobium contortisiliquum)’ | |
| *wijeʔ | ‘cactus (Bromelia serra)’ | |
| *wósitseχ (fruit); *wósits-uˀk, *wósits(e)-ku-jʰ | ‘Prosopis nigra’ | |
| *xélå(ˀ)X₁₂ (fruit), *xélå-juˀk (tree) | ‘plant sp.’ | |
| *xunxátaχ (fruit); *xunxáta-(ju)ˀk (tree) | ‘tusca (Acacia aroma)’ | |
| *xunxáta-kat (grove) | ‘tusca (Acacia aroma)’ | |
| *X₁₃óˀk | ‘Bulnesia sarmientoi’ | |
| *ʔaX₁₃ǻje(ˀ)χ (fruit); *ʔaX₁₃ǻj-uˀk, *ʔaX₁₃ǻj-ku-jʰ (tree) | ‘mistol (Ziziphus mistol)’ | |
| *ʔǻl(V)tse(ˀ)χ, *ʔǻl(V)tse-ts | ‘cháguar (Bromelia urbaniana = Deinacanthon urbanianum)’ | |
| *ʔǻnhajeχ (bean); *ʔǻnhaj-uˀk (plant); *ʔǻnhaje-ˀp (season) | ‘Capparis retusa’ | |
| *ʔåtits ~ *ʔåtíts ~ *ʔåtets ~ *ʔåtéts | ‘wild pepper’ | |
| *ɸinåk, *ɸinhå-jʰ | ‘tobacco’ | (MN) |
| *låttsiki-juˀk, *låttsiki-ku-jʰ | ‘willow’ | (MN) |
| *samto-ˀk | ‘bamboo (Guadua angustifolia)’ | (MN) |
| *tsaqaq ~ *-ä- | ‘plant sp.’ | (MN) |
| *(ˀ)wut | ‘a bushy leguminous plant’ | (MN) |
| *xoxaw-uˀk ?~ *xoxi-juˀk, *-ku-jʰ | ‘Tabebuia nodosa tree’ | (MN) |
| *ʔåthajeχ (fruit); *ʔåthaj-uˀk, *ʔåthaj-ku-jʰ (tree) (*-hä-) | ‘molle plant’ | (MN) |
| *ʔomhatäk (fruit); *ʔomhatä-(ju)ˀk, *ʔomhatä-ku-jʰ (tree) (~ *-hä-) | ‘queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)’ | (MN) |
| *ɸálawuˀk | ‘strangler vine (Morrenia odorata)’ | (ChW) |
| *ɸílå(ˀ)X₁₂ | ‘Solanum sp.’ | (ChW) |
| *ktéta(ʔ) ~ *ktä́ta(ʔ) (fruit); *ktéta-(ju)k ~ *ktä́ta-juk (tree) | ‘Prosopis elata’ | (ChW) |
| *kutsá(ˀ)X₁₂ ~ *kutsé(ˀ)χ ?~ *k’utsá(ˀ)X₁₂ ~ *k’utsé(ˀ)χ | ‘cháguar (Bromelia hieronymi)’ | (ChW) |
| *stá(ˀ)X (fruit); *stá-ˀq (plant) | ‘Stetsonia coryne cactus’ | (ChW) |
| *tsémɬå(ˀ)k ~ *tsä́mɬå(ˀ)k | ‘silk floss tree’ | (ChW) |
| *tsu(ˀ)X ?~*ts’u(ˀ)X (fruit); *tsuX-uk ?~ *ts’uX-uk (tree) | ‘sachamembrillo (Capparis tweediana)’ | (ChW) |
| *ʔaté(ˀ)k ~ *ʔatä́(ˀ)k | ‘cebil (Anadenanthera colubrina) or vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia)’ | (ChW) |
