Tolatecan languages

Last updated
Tolatecan
(abandoned)
Geographic
distribution
Mesoamerica
Linguistic classification Proposed language family
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottolog None
Tolatecan Languages.png

Tolatecan is a proposal by Campbell and Oltrogge (1980) linking two language families of Mesoamerica, Tequistlatecan (Chontal of Oaxaca) and Tol/Jicaque languages of Honduras. [1] Later, Campbell (1997) said that Tolatecan is not likely to be a valid language family. [2]

Both Tequistlatecan and Tol have been at times also included in the larger Hokan proposal, but without any especial relationship within it.

Vocabulary

Below is a comparison of selected basic vocabulary items in Proto-Jicaque and the Tequistlatecan languages.

gloss Proto-Jicaque [3] Huamelultec [4] Highland Chontal [5] Tequistlatec [6]
head*ha(y)pʰukhwajƚiWakfa
hair*¢ʼilhwak’ƚaWakfah
eyea’uƚiʔi’uh
ear*pʰa¢ʼas’maslišʔmas
nose*mik’nałƚiʔnat’nali
tooth*wisa’ay’lihaʔai’
tongue*pelampałƚipaƚpala
mouth*mɨy-pʰini(h); *lalaak’olikóko
hand*mas ?mane’ƚimane
foot*tek 'leg'a’mišliʔmi¢
breasttyuwelatuwepare
meat*pisišik’lišik’ci’
blood*kʼashwac’ƚaWa¢’fas
bone*kʰeleekałlekaƚ
person*yomakwe’kal šans
namepuftyiñeƚaftine
dog*¢ʰiyo(h)milya’kal ¢ikitsigi
fish*kʰulatyu’ƚatutu’u
louse*tɨtʼaykwixƚaykwi
tree*yo(h)’exal ʔek
leafipelalipelapela
floweripa’lipaʔpipi
water*sɨ(tʰ)axa’lahaʔxa
fire*kʼawaunkwa’ƚuŋangwa
stone*pe(h)apixƚapikpih
earth*(a)ma(h)amac’ƚama¢’
salt*¢olimu’weƚoʔweweh
roadane’lanene
eat*la ?sago’malihaʔ 'food'te, tes
die*pɨʔ ?ma’matimáma
I*nap ?iya’iyaʔya
you*hipima’imaʔma

References

  1. Campbell, Lyle, and David Oltrogge (1980). "Proto-Tol (Jicaque)." International Journal of American Linguistics, 46:205-223.
  2. Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages, The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  3. Campbell, Lyle and David Oltrogge. 1980. Proto-Tol (Jicaque). International Journal of American Linguistics 46: 205-223.
  4. O'Connor, Loretta. 2014. Chontal de San Pedro Huamelula, Sierra baja de Oaxaca . (Archivo de Lenguas Indígenas de México, 33.) México: El Colegio de México.
  5. Waterhouse, Viola. 1980. Chontal de la Sierra de Oaxaca. Archivo de Lenguas Indígenas de México, 7. México: Ciudad de México: Centro de Investigación para la Integración Social.
  6. de Angulo, Jaime and Lucy S. Freeland. 1925. The Chontal Language (Dialect of Tequixistlan). Anthropos 20: 1032-1052.