| Calusa–Tunica | |
| Also Known As: | Tunica–Calusa |
| Acceptance: | proposed |
| Region: | Southeastern United States |
| Familycolor: | American |
| Fam1: | Gulf ? |
| Child1: | Calusa † |
| Child2: | Tunica |
| Glotto: | none |
The Calusa–Tunica languages are a proposed small language family that comprises the Tunica language of Louisiana and the extinct Calusa language of Florida.
Julian Granberry (1994) suggests that the Calusa language was related to the Tunica language of the lower Mississippi River Valley, with Calusa possibly being relatively a recent arrival from the lower Mississippi region. Another possibility was that similarities between the languages were derived from long-term mutual contact.[1]
Granberry (1994: 510–512) compares the following Tunica and Calusa morphemes. The Tunica data is from Mary Haas,[2] [3] while the Proto-Tunica reconstructions are Granberry's own work. The Calusa data is primarily drawn from Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda's 16th-century writings.
| gloss | Proto-Tunica | Tunica | Calusa B | Calusa A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fem. sg. noun |
| -hči | -(h)ki |
| |
| imperative verb |
| -ki | -ka | ||
| over there, yonder |
| mí-, -mí | -mi | ||
| very much |
| -štʔɛ |
| ||
| this (noun designator) |
| ká- | ka- | ||
| all around, about |
| té- | te- | ||
| watch (over, for), guard, wait |
| hɛ́ra | śer(a) | ||
| fast, prayer (noun) (húma = berry) |
| húma-ra | homa | ||
| destroy, crush, mash |
| kúča | kuči | ||
| assemble, gather together |
| kúhpa | kupe ~ kunpe |
| |
| settle, camp dwell, sit (down), stay, remain |
| ʔúk(i) | (ʔ)uk(i) | ||
| run |
| lɔ́ta | lɛte | ||
| tongue(d), language |
| -lu | -lo ~ -lu | ||
| make, build |
| mášu | maś(u) | ||
| on the other side |
| máyi | mayai | ||
| come to rest, stop, lie down |
| ná | ño | ||
| war, warrior |
| náka | ñoka | ||
| look, find, see, watch |
| pó | we | ||
| firm, hard, strong |
| rá | r(a) | ||
| house, home, dwelling, building |
| r(í) | r(i) | ||
| tree, branch, wood |
| -šáhka |
|
| |
| examine, look at |
| sɛ́ha | śe(h)(a) | ||
| brave, bold |
| -š(í) | -ś(i) | ||
| stick, impale, harpoon |
| šíhpu | śi(h)pi |
| |
| prairie |
| táhta | ta(h)te |
| |
| join, connect |
| -tépi | -tepe | ||
| cry, weep |
| wáha | wa(h)(a) | ||
| water, liquid |
| wíš(i) | (ʔ)eś(i) | ||
| bring, arrive |
| yáka | yaka |