| Mataco-Guaicuru | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Countries |
|
| Number of speakers |
100,000[1] |
| Language family |
|
| Language codes | |
Mataco-Guaicuru or Macro-Waikurúan is a proposed language phylum consisting of the Guaicuruan, Matacoan[2], and sometimes the Mascoian and Charruan language families. The languages are spoken in the South American countries, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.[1][3]
Language genetics[]
Language distribution.
There is no convincing demonstration that the Mataco-Guaicuru languages are related to any of the indigenous languages of the Americas. Viegas Barros, however, has discovered a number of similarities between the pronomial system of these languages and those of the Macro-Je languages. Previously, Joseph Greenberg had suggested the possible existence of a genetic relationship between the Mataco-Guaicuru and Pano-Tacana languages, but this proposal is generally not accepted.[1]
Phonology[]
This table compares the personal pronouns of languages in the Guaicuruan and Matacoan language families.[1]
| Guaicuruan | Matacoan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadiweu | Toba | Abipón | Mocoví | Wichí | |
| 1st person singular |
èé | hayem | aym | aym | olam |
| 2nd person singular |
akáme | ʔam | akami | akami | am |
| 3rd person singular |
iddoatte | -mari | iñi (m.) añi (f.) |
ini (m.) ani (f.) |
lam |
| 1st person plural |
okó | qomi | akam | okom | olamel |
| 2nd person plural |
okami | qami | akamii | akami | amel |
| 3rd person plural |
iddá | -mari | hiniha (m.) añija (f.) |
inisó (m.) anisó (f.) |
lamel |