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Wikipedia / Mataguayan languages

Mataguayan (also Matacoan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, Mataco–Mataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.

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. It has also been proposed that Maká and Nivaĉle form a clade, however, Nivaĉle also shares several innovations with Chorote–Wichí, casting doubt on the validity of the Maká–Nivaĉle clade.

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.)

Chorote (also known as Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)

(?) 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)

Mason (1950)

Internal classification by Mason (1950):

Mataco-Maca

Mataco

Mataco-Mataguayo

Mataco

  • Guisnay

  • Nocten (Octenai)

Mataguayo

  • Northern: Hueshuo, Pesatupe, Abucheta

  • Southern: Vejoz

Chorotí-Ashluslay

  • Chorotí (Yofuaha)

  • Ashluslay (Chulupí, Chonopí, Sukin, Sotiagay, Tapieté)

Macá (Enimagá, Cochaboth, Guaná, Lengua)

Enimagá

  • Macá (Towothli, Toosle)

  • Guentusé

  • Cochaboth-Lengua

Nikulin & Carol (2024)

Internal classification by Nikulin & Carol (2024):

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

Proto-language

Major reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayo include those by Viegas Barros (2002) (see the corresponding Spanish article for a list of reconstructions) and Nikulin & Carol (2024).

Animal and plant names

The following reconstructions of Proto-Mataguayan animal and plant names are from Nikulin & Carol (2024).

  1. Abbreviations

  2. (MN): reflexes only in Maká and Nivaclé, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level

  3. (ChW): reflexes only in Chorote and Wichí, although the reconstructions are still at the Proto-Mataguayan level

Invertebrates

Fish

Reptiles and amphibians

Birds

Mammals

Plants

References

Bibliography

  • Adelaar, Willem F. H.; & Muysken, Pieter C. (2004). The languages of the Andes. Cambridge language surveys. Cambridge University Press.

  • Campbell, Lyle. (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. .

  • Fabre, Alain (2005). "Los Mataguayo". (Online version: http://www.ling.fi/Entradas%20diccionario/Dic=Mataguayo.pdf)