Cupan languages

For the Hungarian rebel, see Koppány.

The Cupan languages is a branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family that comprises Cupeño, Ivilyuat (Cahuilla), Luiseño-Juaneño, and perhaps Nicoleño^{[citation needed]}, all historically spoken in southern California.

Cupan
Geographic distribution	southern California
Linguistic classification	Uto-Aztecan Northern Takic? Cupan
Subdivisions	Cupeño–Cahuilla Luiseño–Juaneño ? Nicoleño †
Glottolog	cupa1239
Historical extent of Cupan languages

The branch had long been considered to be part of the Takic subgroup, but there is doubt about the validity of Takic as a genetic unit, the similarities between the languages classed as Takic possibly being due primarily to borrowing.^[1][2]

Languages and dialects

• Luiseño-Juaneño language
  • Luiseño dialect cluster^[3]
  • Juaneño dialect †
• Ivilyuat (also known as Cahuilla)
  • Mountain Cahuilla dialect^[3]
  • Pass Cahuilla dialect (also known as Wanikik)^[4] †
  • Desert Cahuilla dialect
• Cupeño †
  • Cupa dialect^[5] †
  • Wilaqalpa dialect †
  • Paluqla dialect †

(†) – Extinct language

References

1. Shaul, D. L. (2014). A Prehistory of Western North America: The Impact of Uto-Aztecan Languages. UNM Press.
2. Hill, J. H. (2011). "Subgrouping in Uto-Aztecan". Language Dynamics and Change, 1(2), 241-278.
3. Golla, Victor (2011-08-02). California Indian Languages. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26667-4.
4. Mamet, Ingo (2008). Man-bear travels to hell: aspects of the phonological description of a Cahuilla narrative. LINCOM GmbH. ISBN 9783895867866.
5. Hill, Jane H. (2005). A Grammar of Cupeño. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24637-9.