Esmeralda–Yaruroan languages

Esmeralda–Yaruro
(proposed)
Geographic
distribution
Venezuela, Ecuador
Linguistic classificationProposed language family
Subdivisions
Language codes
GlottologNone

Esmeralda–Yaruro or Takame–Jarúroan is a proposed connection between two unclassified languages or language isolates of Venezuela and Ecuador respectively: Pumé (Llaruro, Yaruro, Yuapín), with 6,000 speakers, and the extinct Esmeralda (Esmeraldeño, Takame). The proposal was first advanced in 1902.[1] They would be only distantly related, but Kaufman (1990) finds the connection convincing, and Campbell (2012) believes the connection is promising.[2]

Vocabulary

Below is a comparison of selected basic vocabulary items in Esmeralda and Pumé.

gloss Esmeralda[3] Pumé[4]
hair rarapo kü̃́
eye mula dachó
nose ra-ausa (my) ĩbupuȩ́
tooth ra-ha, ra-ka jõdȩ́
mouth bassa dyá
hand disa (my) ichí
foot taha
blood kar(k)a gué
bone mu-kilsa
person ilon o̧ãĩ́
name chinto kẽ́
dog kine (a)oré
fish ki chṍ
tree tá(k)te
leaf rampide (?) to pjü̃dá
water uivi, úvoi
fire muka (with) kjõdȩ́
earth dó; dula dabú
road dire nṍ
eat enima jurá
die ubale, ybale 'dead' jãbó

References

  1. ^ The Languages of the Andes (2004)
  2. ^ Campbell, Lyle (2012). "Classification of the indigenous languages of South America". In Grondona, Verónica; Campbell, Lyle (eds.). The Indigenous Languages of South America. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 2. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 59–166. ISBN 978-3-11-025513-3.
  3. ^ Jijón y Caamaño, Jacinto. 1941. El Ecuador interandino y occidental antes de la conquista castellana, vol. 2. Quito: Editorial Ecuatoriana
  4. ^ Mosonyi, Esteban Emilio and Jorge Ramón García. 2000. Yaruro (Pumé). In Mosonyi, Esteban Emilio and Jorge Carlos Mosonyi (eds.), Manual de Lenguas Indígenas de Venezuela, 544-593. Caracas: Fundación Bigott.
  • Kaufman, Terrence (1990). "Language History in South America: What we know and how to know more". In Doris L. Payne (ed.). Amazonian Linguistics. Austin: University of Texas Press.