Tucanoan (also Tukanoan, Tukánoan) is a
language family
A language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ''ancestral language'' or ''parental language'', called the proto-language of that family. The term "family" reflects the tree model of language origination in h ...
of
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
, and
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
.
Language contact
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the
Arutani,
Paez,
Sape,
Taruma,
Witoto-Okaina,
Saliba-Hodi,
Tikuna-Yuri,
Pano,
Barbakoa,
Bora-Muinane, and
Choko language families due to contact.
Classification
Chacon (2014)
There are two dozen Tucanoan languages. There is a clear binary split between Eastern Tucanoan and Western Tucanoan.
[Nikulin, Andrey V. 2019. ]
The classification of the languages of the South American Lowlands: State-of-the-art and challenges / Классификация языков востока Южной Америки
'. Illič-Svityč (Nostratic) Seminar / Ностратический семинар, Higher School of Economics, October 17, 2019.
;Western Tucanoan
*?
Cueretú (Kueretú) †
*Napo
**
Orejón ( M'áíhɨ̃ki, Maijiki, Coto, Koto, Payoguaje, Payaguá, Payowahe, Payawá)
**Correguaje–Secoya
***
Correguaje (Koreguaje, Korewahe, a.k.a. Caquetá)
***Siona–Secoya (Upper Napo, Baicoca–Siecoca)
****?
Macaguaje ( Kakawahe, Piohé) †
****
Siona (Bai Coca, Sioni, Pioje, Pioche-Sioni, Tetete)
****
Secoya
The Secoya (also known as Angotero, Encabellado, Huajoya, Piojé, Siekopai) are an indigenous peoples living in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon. They speak the Secoya language Pai Coca, which is part of the Western Tucanoan language group. In ...
(Sieko Coca, Airo Pai, Piohé)
****?
Tama †
;Eastern Tucanoan
*South
**
Tanimuca (a.k.a. Retuarã)
**?
Yauna (Jaúna, Yahuna, Yaúna) †
*West
**Barasana–Macuna
***
Macuna
The Macuna are a Tucanoan-speaking group of the eastern part of the Amazon basin, located around the confluence of the Pira Paraná River and Apaporis river, in the Colombian Vaupés Department and the Brazilian state of Amazonas. There are no ...
(a.k.a. Buhagana, Wahana, Makuna-Erulia, Makuna)
***
Barasana
Barasana (alternate names ''Barazana'', Panenua'', ''Pareroa'', or ''Taiwano is an exonym applied to an Amazonian people, considered distinct from the Taiwano, though the dialect of the latter is almost identical to that of the Barasana, and outs ...
(Southern Barasano, a.k.a. Paneroa, Eduria, Edulia, Comematsa, Janera, Taibano, Taiwaeno, Taiwano)
**Cubeo–Desano
***
Cubeo (Cuveo, Kobeua, Kubewa)
***Yupua–Desano
****?
Yupuá †
****
Desano–
Siriano (a.k.a. Desano)
*East
**Central
***
Tucano (Tukana, a.k.a. Dasea)
***Waimaha–Tatuyo
****
Waimajã (a.k.a. Bara, Northern Barasano)
****
Tatuyo
**North
***Kotiria–Piratapuyo
****
Guanano (Wanana, Wanano, a.k.a. Kotedia, Kotiria, Wanana-Pirá)
****Piratapuyo (a.k.a. Waikina, Uiquina)
***Pisamira–Yuruti
****
Pisamira–
Carapano (Carapana, Karapana)
****Tuyuca–Yuruti
*****
Tuyuka (Tejuca, Teyuka, Tuyuca, a.k.a. Bara, Barasana)
*****
Yurutí
Plus unclassified
Miriti.†
Most languages are, or were, spoken in Colombia.
Jolkesky (2016)
Internal classification by Jolkesky (2016):
[Jolkesky, Marcelo Pinho De Valhery. 2016. ]
Estudo arqueo-ecolinguístico das terras tropicais sul-americanas
'. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Brasília
The University of Brasília ( pt, Universidade de Brasília, UnB) is a federal public university in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. It was founded in 1960 and has since consistently been named among the top five Brazilian universities and the ...
.
(† = extinct)
;Tukano
*Tukano, Western
**''
Kueretu'' †
**Tukano, Western, Nuclear
***''
Mai Huna''
***Koreguaje-Pioje
****Koreguaje-Tama
*****''
Koreguaje''
*****''
Tama'' †
****Pioje (Baicoca–Siecoca)
*****''
Makaguaje'' †
*****''
Sekoya''
*****''
Siona''
*****''
Tetete'' †
*Tukano, Eastern
**''
Tanimuka''; ''
Retuarã''; ''
Yahuna''
**Tukano, Eastern, West
***Kubeo-Desano
****''
Kubeo''
****Desano-Yupua
*****''
Desano''; ''
Siriano''
*****''
Yupua'' †
***''
Makuna''; ''
Barasano''; ''
Eduria''
**Tukano, Eastern, East
***Tukano-Tatuyo
****''
Tukano''
****Tatuyo-Bara-Waimaha
*****''
Tatuyo''
*****''
Bara''; ''
Waimaha''
***Tuyuka-Wanano
****Wanano-Piratapuyu
*****''
Wanano''
*****''
Piratapuyo''
****Tuyuka-Karapanã
*****''
Karapanã''; ''
Pisamira''
*****''
Tuyuka''; ''
Yuruti''
Varieties
Below is a full list of Tucanoan language varieties listed by
Loukotka (1968), including names of unattested varieties.
;Western group
*Tama - spoken on the
Yarú River and
Caguán River, Caquetá territory, Colombia, but now perhaps extinct.
*Coreguaje - spoken at the sources of the
Caquetá River, department of Cauca, Colombia.
*Amaguaje / Encabellado / Rumo - extinct language once spoken on the
Aguarico River
The Aguarico River ( es, Río Aguarico, meaning "rich water") is a river in northeastern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo Rive ...
,
department of Loreto, Peru.
*Siona / Zeona / Ceño / Kokakañú - language spoken at the sources of the
Putumayo River and
Caquetá River, Putumayo territory, Colombia.
*Ificuene - spoken between the
Güepi River and
Aguarico River
The Aguarico River ( es, Río Aguarico, meaning "rich water") is a river in northeastern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo Rive ...
, Loreto. (Unattested.)
*Eno - language spoken by a few individuals at the mouth of the
San Miguel River, Caquetá territory, Colombia. (Unattested.)
*Secoya - language spoken on the
Putumayo River, Oriente province, Ecuador. (Johnson and Peeke 1962.)
*Icaguate - extinct language once spoken on the
Caucaya River and
Putumayo River, Putumayo territory, Colombia.
*Macaguaje - spoken in the same territory on the
Mecaya River and
Caucaya River and around
Puerto Restrepo, by a few families.
*Tetete / Eteteguaje - extinct language once spoken at the sources of the
Güepi River, Loreto. (Unattested.)
*Pioje / Angotero / Ancutere - spoken on the
Napo River
The Napo River ( es, Río Napo) is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the east Andean volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.
The total length is . The river drains an area of . The mean annual di ...
,
Tarapoto River, and
Aguarico River
The Aguarico River ( es, Río Aguarico, meaning "rich water") is a river in northeastern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo Rive ...
, Loreto.
*Cóto / Payoguaje - spoken at the mouth of the
Napo River
The Napo River ( es, Río Napo) is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the east Andean volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.
The total length is . The river drains an area of . The mean annual di ...
, Loreto, Peru.
;Yahuna group
*Yahuna / Jaúna - spoken on the
Apoporis River, territory of Amazonas, Colombia.
*Tanimuca / Opaina - spoken by a small tribe on the
Popeyaca River and
Guacayá River, Amazonas, Colombia.
*Dätuana - spoken north of the preceding tribe on the
Apoporis River.
*Menimehe - spoken by a very little known tribe at the mouth of the
Mirití-paraná River and
Caquetá River. (Unattested.)
;Yupua group
*Yupua / Hiupiá - spoken on the
Coca River
The Coca River is a river in eastern Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Napo River. The two rivers join in the city of Puerto Francisco de Orellana. The Payamino River
The Payamino River is a river of Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Napo River ...
, a tributary of the
Apoporis River, Colombia.
*Kushiita - once spoken at the mouth of the
Apoporis River, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Now perhaps extinct. (Unattested.)
*Durina / Sokó - spoken on the
Carapato River, Amazonas territory, Colombia.
;Coretu group
*Coretu / Kueretú - spoken on the
Mirití-paraná River, state of Amazonas, Brazil.
;Cubeo group
*Cubeo / Kobéua / Kaniwa / Hahanana - spoken on the
Caiarí River and
Cuduiarí River, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Dialects are:
**Dyuremáwa / Yiboia-tapuya - spoken on the
Querarí River, Amazonas.
**Bahukíwa / Bahuna - spoken by a tribe that originally spoke a language of the Arawak stock, on the
Cuduiarí River.
**Hehénawa - spoken on the
Cuduiarí River.
**Hölöua - spoken on the
Cuduiarí River, now perhaps extinct. (Unattested.)
;Särä group
*Särä - spoken between the
Tiquié River and
Piraparaná River, Vaupés territory, Colombia.
*Ömöa - spoken at the sources of the
Tiquié River, Colombia.
*Buhágana / Karawatana - spoken on the
Piraparaná River, Colombia.
*Macuna - spoken at the mouth of the
Apoporis River, Colombia.
;Erulia group
*Erulia / Paboa / Eduria - spoken on the
Piraparaná River, Colombia.
*Tsaloa - spoken on the
Piraparaná River.
*Palänoa - spoken on the middle course of the
Piraparaná River.
;Desána group
*Desána / Wína / Vina - spoken between the
Tiquié River and
Caiarí River, partly in Colombia and partly in Brazil.
*Chiránga / Siriána - spoken on the
Paca-igarapé River, Colombia.
;Tucano group
*Tucano / Tocano / Dace / Dagseje / Dajseá / Tocana - language of a large tribe that lived on the Vaupés and
Tiquié River; state of Amazonas, Brazil.
*Uaíana - on the
Caiary River, Colombia.
*Tuyuca / Doxcapura - spoken on the
Tiquié River and
Papury River, partly in Brazil, partly in Colombia.
*Arapaso / Koréa - extinct language once spoken on the
Yapú River, Amazonas, Brazil. The last survivors now speak only Tucano. (Unattested.)
*Waikína / Uiquina / Uaíkana / Pira-tapuya - spoken on the
Papury River, Colombia.
*Uantya / Puçá-tapuya - once spoken on the
Macú-igarapé River, Colombia.
*Bará / Pocanga - spoken at the sources of the
Tiquié River, Colombia.
*Uasöna / Pisa-tapuya - spoken on the
Caiary River, Colombia.
*Tsölá / Teiuana - spoken on the
Tiquié River and
Piraparaná River, Colombia.
*Urubú-tapuyo - extinct language once spoken at the sources of the
Caiary River, Colombia.
*Pamöá / Tatú-tapuyo - spoken at the sources of the
Papury River and on the
Tuyigarapé, Colombia.
*Patsoca / Iuruty-tapuyo - once spoken on the
Abio River and
Apoporis River, Colombia.
*Möxdöá / Carapana-tapuya - spoken between the
Papury River and
Caiary River, Colombia.
*Uanána / Wanána / Kotédia - spoken on the
Caiarí River near the
Cachoeira dos Araras, Brazil.
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.
Proto-language
Proto-Tukanoan reconstructions by Chacon (2013):
[Chacon, Thiago (2013). On Proto-Languages and Archaeological Cultures: pre-history and material culture in the Tukanoan Family. In ''Revista Brasileira de Linguística Antropológica''. Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 217-245.]
References
Bibliography
* Campbell, Lyle. (1997). ''American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America''. New York: Oxford University Press. .
* Kaufman, Terrence. (1990). Language history in South America: What we know and how to know more. In D. L. Payne (Ed.), ''Amazonian linguistics: Studies in lowland South American languages'' (pp. 13–67). Austin: University of Texas Press. .
* Kaufman, Terrence. (1994). The native languages of South America. In C. Mosley & R. E. Asher (Eds.), ''Atlas of the world's languages'' (pp. 46–76). London: Routledge.
External links
* Proel
Familia Tucanoana
{{Authority control
Language families
Indigenous languages of the South American Northwest
Indigenous languages of Western Amazonia