Guaicuruan languages


Guaicuruan is a language family spoken in northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and Brazil. The speakers of the languages are often collectively called the Guaycuru peoples. For the most part, the Guaycuruans lived in the Gran Chaco and were nomadic and warlike, until finally subdued by the various countries of the region in the 19th century.

Genetic relations

includes Guaicuruan with Charruan in a hypothetical Waikuru-Charrúa stock. Morris Swadesh includes Guaicuruan along with Matacoan, Charruan, and Mascoian within his Macro-Mapuche stock. Both proposals appear to be obsolete.

Family division

Guaicuruan/Waikurúan languages are often classified as follows:
Abipón, Guachí, and Payaguá all are extinct.
Lyle Campbell classifies Guachi and Payagua each as language isolates.
Harriet Klein argues against the assumption that Kadiweu is Guaicuruan. Most others accept the inclusion of Kadiweu into the family. The Guachi were absorbed by the Mbayá. The similarities with the Mbayá language may be due to borrowing rather than a familial relationship.
Internal classification of the Guaicuruan languages by Mason :
Possible or doubtful Guaicuruan languages listed by Mason :
lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Guaicuruan languages.
glossGuaicuruKaduveoBeakeoToba-GuazúToba-MichíKomlékPilagáMocovíAbiponGuachíPayaguá
oneuniniteguíoniúdeuniditiknatedakmolekniátakolékonolikiñiatedaiñitãratamakhesle
twoitoadaedoádaitio-átatekakainídivastolukadiákteiñabakoiñoakáeuexotigaké
eyeni-güekogüeo-gekorei-gékureiya-itikada-itékade-itékada-iténiko-ténato-eteya-tayaya-tígui
earna-pagateona-parátea-paratetelake-telákadke-tilákalke-teláli-kelaketalirtan-metéya-igua
toothno-güeodo-aodoː-uéka-duhekada-uvékado-daitíkada-etéovéna-vueya-vaya-serata
manuneleiːguaonelégioinelégioːyaléyaléyalélxiguoyaléyoaléshakupakú
waternogodiniorodiníoroːdietaratnetathnoröpitaratvarayákenarpöakueig
firenuledinolédinoːlédinodéknodékdóledolénoríknkátekhicháte
earthiyogodiiːgoírualoaalugál'ovaaluáalobáalóaleeknagiku
fishnagoyegínorodzyeinrodzyégniyakniyakniːaknigiyaknayínoayianeinahiguáte