Jirajaran languages
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The Jirajaran languages are group of extinct languages once spoken in western Venezuela in the regions of Falcón and Lara. All of the Jirajaran languages appear to have become extinct in the early 20th century.[1] According to Glottolog, its languages constitute a language isolate.
Languages
Based on adequate documentation, three languages are definitively classified as belonging to the Jirajaran family:[1]
- Jirajara, spoken in the state of Falcón
- Ayomán, spoken in the village of Siquisique in the state of Lara
- Gayón, spoken at the sources of the Tocuyo River in the state of Lara
Loukotka includes four additional languages, for which no linguistic documentation exists:[2]
- Coyone, spoken at the sources of the Portuguesa River in the state of Portuguesa, sometimes considered a synonym for Gayon
- Cuiba, spoken near the city of Aricagua
- Atatura, spoken between the Rocono and Tucupido rivers
- Aticari, spoken along the Tocuyo River
- Gayón (Cayon)
- Ayomán
- Xagua (not to be confused with Achawa language)
- Cuiba (?)
- Jirajara
Classification
The Jirajaran languages are generally regarded as isolates. Adelaar and Muysken note certain lexical similarities with the Timotean languages and typological similarity to the Chibchan languages, but state that the data is too limited to make a definitive classification.[1] Jahn, among others, has suggested a relation between the Jirajaran language and the Betoi languages, mostly on the basis of similar ethnonyms.[4] Greenberg and Ruhlen classify Jirajaran as belonging to the Paezan language family, along with the Betoi languages, the Páez language, the Barbacoan languages and others.[5]
Language contact
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Sape, Timote-Kuika, and Puinave-Kak language families due to contact.[6]
Typology
Based on the little documentation that exists, a number of typological characteristics are reconstructable:[7]
- 1. VO word order in transitive clauses
- 2. Subjects precede verbs
- 3. Possessors which precede the possessed
- 4. Adjectives follow the nouns they modify
- 5. Numerals precede the nouns they quantify
- 6. Use of postpositions, rather than prepositions
Vocabulary comparison
Jahn (1927) lists the following basic vocabulary items.[4]
Comparison of Jirajaran vocabulary, based on Jahn (1927) English Ayomán Gayón Jirajara fire dug dut, idú dueg foot a-sengán segué angán hen degaró digaró degaró house gagap hiyás gagap snake huhí, jují jují túb sun iñ yivat yuaú
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.[2]
Comparison of Jirajaran vocabulary, based on Loukotka (1968) gloss Jirajara Ayomán Gayón one bógha two auyí three mongañá head a-ktegi a-tógh is-tóz ear a-uñán a-kivóugh himigui tooth a-king man iyít yúsh yus water ing ing guayí fire dueg dug dut sun yuaú iñ yivat maize dos dosh dosivot bird chiskua chiskua house gagap gagap hiyás
Further reading
- Oramas, L. (1916). Materiales para el estudio de los dialectos Ayamán, Gayón, Jirajara, Ajagua. Caracas: Litografía del Comercio.
- Querales, R. (2008). El Ayamán. Ensayo de reconstrucción de un idioma indígena venezolano. Barquisimeto: Concejo Municipal de Iribarren.
References
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