Alacalufan languages

Language family of South America From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Alacalufan languages or Kawesqaran languages are a small language family of South America. They have not been definitely linked to any other American language family.[1][2]

Quick Facts Geographic distribution, Ethnicity ...
Alacalufan
Kawesqaran
Geographic
distribution
Chile
EthnicityAlacaluf people
Linguistic classificationOne of the world's primary language families
Subdivisions
Language codes
ISO 639-5aqa
ISO 639-3
Glottologkawe1237
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Languages

Early vocabularies show that Alakaluf was three languages, with an extinct Southern Alakaluf (vocabularies in Fitz-Roy 1839 and Hyades & Deniker 1891) and Central Alakaluf (vocabularies in Borgatello 1928, Marcel 1892, and Skottsberg 1913) in addition to the critically endangered northern variety, Kawésqar.[3]

Based on alleged toponymic evidence, a purported Kakauhua language has sometimes been included in the Alacalufan family.[citation needed]

Guaicaro may have been a dialect of Central Alakaluf or Kawesqar.

Mason (1950)

Mason (1950) lists:[4]

  • Caucawe (Kaukahue, etc.)
  • Enoo (Peshera)
  • Lecheyel
  • Yekinawe (Yequinahuere, etc.)
  • Adwipliin
  • Alikulip, Alakaluf, etc.
  • Calen
  • Taijatof

Chono, Caraica (Karaika), and Poya may also belong.

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the "Aksanas" and "Alacaluf" languages.[5]

More information gloss, Northern Alacaluf (Southern Alacaluf) ...
glossNorthern Alacaluf

(Southern Alacaluf)

Southern Alacaluf

(Central Alacaluf)

Kaueskar
tongue lekélpaileafkalaktás
hand palkáryukebeterwá
water karkasaarrétchfalai
moon dzyakapésyakapechkapánuk
dog salkishalkikyurro
fish xawoelorolkeuwako
canoe pelercherrukaief
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References

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