Plateau Penutian languages
Subgroup within the hypothetical Penutian language family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plateau Penutian (also Shahapwailutan, Lepitan, Plateau) is a family of languages spoken in northern California, reaching through central-western Oregon to northern Washington and central-northern Idaho. The family is accepted by Campbell (2024).[1]
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distributionPacific Northwest
- Plateau Penutian
| Plateau Penutian | |
|---|---|
| Shahapwailutan, Lepitan | |
| Geographic distribution | Pacific Northwest |
| Linguistic classification | Penutian?
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | None |
Pre-contact distribution of Plateau Penutian languages | |
Family division
History
Plateau Penutian, as originally proposed, was one branch of the hypothetical Penutian phylum as proposed by Edward Sapir. The original proposal also included Cayuse (which was grouped with Molala into a Waiilatpuan branch); however, this language has little documentation and that which is documented is inadequately recorded. Thus, the status of Cayuse within Penutian (or any other genealogical relation for that matter) may very well forever remain unclassified.
The Sahaptian grouping of Sahaptin and Nez Percé has long been uncontroversial. There is evidence in support of a connection between Klamath (a.k.a. Klamath-Modoc) and Sahaptian. Howard Berman[2] also provides evidence that would include Molala within Plateau Penutian.
Appraisals of the Penutian hypothesis in the 1990s find Plateau Penutian to be "well supported" (DeLancey & Golla (1997: 181); Campbell 1997), with DeLancey & Golla (1997: 180) cautiously stating "while all subgroupings at this stage of Penutian research must be considered provisional, several linkages show considerable promise" (Campbell 1997 likewise mentions similar caveats). Other researchers have pointed out similarities between Plateau Penutian and the Maiduan family, although this proposal is still not completely demonstrated. A connection with Uto-Aztecan has also been suggested (Rude 2000). The Glottolog classification, favored by many linguistic typologists but considered too conservative by some, disregards Plateau Penutian entirely.
Computational analyses
A study published in 2013 using an automated computational analysis (ASJP 4) of 40 basic vocabulary items resulted in languages from Plateau Penutian showing similarities that could be interpreted as genealogical cohesion.[3] However, when describing the method, the authors of the study also concede that similarities may be due to borrowings and areal diffusion.[4] Moreover, the use of automated methods for establishing genealogical connections is controversial, with many historical linguistics still favouring analyses using the comparative method, which places high importance on morphological similarities, especially when found in irregularities (e.g. English good-better-best, German gut-besser-best, Icelandic góður-betri-bestur).
Vocabulary
Below is a comparison of selected basic vocabulary items in Proto-Sahaptian, Klamath, and Molala †.
- Abbreviations
gloss Proto-Sahaptian[5] Klamath[6] Molala[7] head S łamtɨ́x̣ nʼo laʔwi hair lag̣ tałimt eye lolb tuːns ear momʼoˑwč taːps nose *núšnu psi piłs tooth dot taʔnf tongue baˑwč aʔpaːws mouth S ɨ́m som similq hand nʼep teːs foot peč taylaks meat S nɨkʷɨ́t čʼoleˑk neːwit blood N kikeʔt ǰeg̣le ałp bone *pípš qaqʼo pupt person *tenén maqlag̣ name N weʔnikt seˑss hastu(ː)qs dog N cq̓ám-qal wač̓aˑkʼ saka(ʔ) fish kyem louse N hasas 'nit, louse egg' kʼoY tree N tewlikt g̣oˑ leaf tʼapq flower leˑw water *kéweš; N kúus ʔambo uq-n-s fire lolog̣ teːc stone qday tqaʔnt earth g̣eˑla laŋs road *ʔɨškɨ́t sdo eat N ké- p’aʔst 's/he is eating' die *ƛaʔyáwi/*ƛʔayáwi g̣leg (sg.); čʼoˑqʼ (pl.) I ni ina you ʔi kiː