Witotoan languages


Witotoan is a small language family of southwestern Colombia and the neighbouring region of Peru.

Genetic relations

Aschmann proposed that the Boran and Witotoan language families were related, in a Bora–Witoto stock. Echeverri & Seifart refute the connection.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Pijao, Yaruro, Arawak, Bora-Muinane, Choko, and Tukano language families due to contact. Some of this contact occurred had due to the expansion of Witotoan speakers down the Putumayo River.

Family division

The classification above is based on Campbell, who follows Richard Aschmann's 1993 classification and reconstruction of proto-Witotoan.
Nonuya is nearly extinct, but attempts are being made at revival.
The following extinct languages are unclassified within Witotoan:
Kaufman adds Andoque.
Synonymy note:'
Internal classification of the Witotoan languages by Mason :
lists the following basic vocabulary items for Witotoan language varieties.
glossNorthern
Uitoto		Central
Uitoto		Southern
Uitoto		CaimitoHaírúyaOrejoneOcainaNonuyaAndoqueroCoerunaMuinane
onedanedaxedákededáhetiamaːmadaːʔamütsätsaːma
twomenanemaxeménademénahemamatiámamünaːʔamhüyinaːma
threedaxéámanimanídaheámanidáheámanitaüuefuórotsahiːnwá
headi-fogoi-fokeö-fogeex-fógehuhaopórino-phühõehegö-hóköko-pia
eyeuiziuiseóiseuiseoioxuödo-wtsʔáge-usökoya-asá
toothi-sidoi-sidoʔoi-sídoix-sídea-tídyoatítyoo-tihidoge-sühiku-iríítie
mannokaeimaöimakomuinäyizakomäoːethimáeüaimé
waterhainoyxinuyhainoéhánenoiänoeñióxinohowinóhwinüho
fireboʔodönoraikeraikerékeräkötárothítsehoäitha
maizebechapechatopedzyatopechatokobékobéto
jaguarkikoxikohököhirásitähituidéhükohoʔokoökóöighó
housexofoefofohofohofohofohuahopóhowoːhoːhónáisahopo