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The following purported languages of South America are listed as unclassified in either Campbell (2012), Loukotka (1968), Ethnologue , or Glottolog . Nearly all are extinct. It is likely that many of them were not actually distinct languages, only ethnic or regional names.
![]() | This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Campbell has published a new classification (2024).(September 2025) |
Campbell & Grondona (2012:116–130) lists the following 395 languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct. [1] Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968) [2] and Adelaar & Muysken (2004). [3] The majority are not listed in Ethnologue . The list is arranged in alphabetical order.
Loukotka (1968) lists the following languages of South America as unclassified. They are extinct unless otherwise noted.
Divisions A (South) and B (Chaco) (Loukotka 1968: 63):
Division C (Central Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 86–87):
Division D (Northeast Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 92–95):
Tropical North Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 165–168):
Tropical South Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 178–179):
Tropical Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 196–198):
Tropical Northeast South America (Loukotka 1968: 228–230):
Northern Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 259):
South Central Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 272–273):
Ethnologue 26 lists the following languages of South America as unclassified:
However, Glottolog states that Agavotaguerra is not unclassified, but unattested; the only reports are that the Agavotaguerra speak Yawalapiti.
In addition, Ethnologue classifies Aikanã, Uamué and Xukurú, all of Brazil as isolates, but they are too poorly attested to classify.
In addition to many of the languages above, Glottolog lists the following:
Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above. [32] [33]
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