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Matacoan languages

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

Family division

Matacoan consists of 4 languages:

1. Wichí (a.k.a. Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo)
2. Chorote (a.k.a. Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)
3. Nivaclé (a.k.a. Chulupí-Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe)
4. Maká (a.k.a. Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, Mak’á, Enimaca, Enimaga)
Wichí has 4 regional varieties: (1) Vejoz (a.k.a. Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz), (2) Noktén (a.k.a. Noctén, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten), (3) Wiznay (a.k.a. Güisnay, Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay), and (4) Matawayo (a.k.a. Matahuayo). Gordon (2005) divides Wichí into 3 separate languages. The name Mataco is very common but is pejorative.

Chorote has 2 varieties: (1) Manhui (a.k.a. Manjuy, Iyo’wujwa Chorote) and (2) Eklenhui (a.k.a. Eclenjuy, Eklehui, Iyojwa’ja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti). Gordon (2005) considers these separate languages.

Nivaclé has 2 varieties: (1) Forest Nivaclé and (2) River Nivaclé. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.

Maká has 2 varieties: (1) Ma’ká (a.k.a. Towolhi) and (2) Enimaga (a.k.a. Enimaa, Kochaboth).

Genetic relations

Morris Swadesh includes Matacoan along with Guaicuruan, Charruan, and Mascoyan within his Macro-Mapuche stock.

Joseph Greenberg places Matacoan within a Mataco-Guaicuru grouping similar to Swadesh's Macro-Mapuche with the exception that his Mataco-Guaicuru also includes Lule-Vilela. Mataco-Guaicuru is then connected with Panoan, Tacanan, and Mosetenan in his larger Macro-Panoan phylum.

Kaufman (1990) suggests that the Matacoan-Guaicuruan-Charruan-Mascoyan-Lule-Vilela proposal deserves to be explored — a grouping which he calls Macro-Waikurúan. Kaufman's (1994) Macro-Waikurúan proposal excludes Lule-Vilela.

Links

Bibliography

 


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