List of extinct Uto-Aztecan languages explained

A large number of languages known only from brief mentions are thought to have been Uto-Aztecan languages, but became extinct without being documented. The following list is based on .

• San Nicolás (Nicoleño): spoken in California, thought to be a Takic language.
• Giamina/Omomil: Kroeber (1907) and Lamb (1964) believe Giamina may constitute a separate branch of Northern Uto-Aztecan, although Miller (1983) is uncertain about this. It was spoken in Southern California.
• Vanyume: a Takic language of California
• Acaxee (Aiage): closely related to Tahue, a Cahitan language, linked with Tebaca and Sabaibo.
• Amotomanco (Otomoaco): uncertain classification, possibly Uto-Aztecan. (See Troike (1988) for more details.)
• Cazcan (Caxcan): sometimes considered to be the same as Zacateca, although would only consider these to be geographical classifications.
• Baciroa: closely connected to Tepahue
• Basopa
• Batuc: possibly an Opata dialect
• Cahuameto: probably belongs with Oguera and Nio
• Chínipa: may be a Tarahumaran language close to Ocoroni, since colonial sources claim the two are mutually intelligible. It may also instead be a local name for a variety of Guarijío.
• Coca: spoken near Lake Chapala.
• Colotlan: a Pimic language closely related to Tepehuan, or Teul and Tepecano
• Comanito: a Taracahitic language closely related to Tahue
• Concho: probably a Taracahitic language (Troike 1988). Subdivisions include Chinarra, Abasopalme,^[1] Chizo; Toboso is possibly related to Concho as well.
• Conicari: a Taracahitic language closely related to Tahue
• Guachichil

possibly a variant or close relative of Huichol

• Guasave: possibly a Taracahitic language, or may instead be non-Uto-Aztecan language possibly related to Seri due to the speakers' maritime economy (Miller 1983). Dialects include Compopori, Ahome, Vacoregue, and Achire.
• Guazapar (Guasapar): probably a Tarahumara dialect, or it may be more closely related to Guarijío and Chínipa. Guazapar, Jova, Pachera, and Juhine may possibly all be dialects of Tarahumara.
• Guisca (Coisa)
• Hio: possibly a Taracahitic language
• Huite: closely related to Ocoroni, and may be Taracahitic
• Irritila: a Lagunero band
• Jova (Jobal, Ova): most often linked with Opata, although some scholars classify it as a Tarahumara dialect. Miller (1983) considers it to be "probably Taracahitan."
• Jumano

also Humano, Jumana, Xumana, Chouman (from a French source), Zumana, Zuma, Suma, and Yuma. Suma is probably the same language, while Jumano is possibly Uto-Aztecan. (Not to be confused with the Jumana language of Colombia.)

• Lagunero: may be the same as Irritila, and may also be closely related to Zacateco or Huichol.
• Macoyahui: probably related to Cahita.
• Mocorito: a Tahue language, which is Taracahitic.
• Naarinuquia (Themurete?): Uto-Aztecan affiliation is likely, although it may instead be non-Uto-Aztecan language possibly related to Seri due to the speakers' maritime economy.
• Nacosura: an Opata dialect
• Nio: completely undocumented, although it is perhaps related to Ocoroni.
• Ocoroni: most likely a Taracahitic language, and is reported to be mutually intelligible with Chínipa, and similar to Opata. Related languages may include Huite and Nio.
• Oguera (Ohuera)
• Patarabuey: unknown affiliation (Purépecha region near Lake Chapala), and is possibly a Nahuatl dialect.
• Tahue: may also include Comanito, Mocorito, Tubar, and Zoe. It is possibly a Taracahitic language, and is definitely not Nahuan.
• Tanpachoa: unknown affiliation, and was once spoken along the Río Grande. Only one word is known, which is ocae 'arrow'.^[2]
• Tecuexe

speakers were possibly part of a "Mexicano" (Nahua) colony.

• Teco-Tecoxquin

an Aztecan language

• Tecual

closely related to Huichol. According to Sauer (1934:14), the "Xamaca, by another name called Hueitzolme [Huichol], all ... speak the Thequalme language, though they differ in vowels."

• Témori: may be a Tarahumara dialect.
• Tepahue: possibly a Taracahitic language. Closely related languages or dialects include Macoyahui, Conicari, and Baciroa.
• Tepanec

an Aztecan language.

• Teul (Teul-Chichimeca): a Pimic language, possibly of the Tepecano subgroup.
• Toboso

grouped with Concho.

• Topia: perhaps the same as Xixime (Jijime).
• Topiame: possibly a Taracahitic language.
• Totorame

grouped with Cora.

• Xixime (Jijime): spoken by the Xiximes, possibly a Taracahitic language. Subdivisions are Hine and Hume. Its links with Acaxee are uncertain.
• Zacateco

often considered the same as Acaxee, although this is uncertain. It is possibly related to Huichol, although Miller (1983) leaves it as unclassified.

• Zoe: possibly a Taracahitic language, with Baimena as a subdivision. It is possibly affiliated with Comanito.

Bibliography

• Book: Miller . Wick R.. Alfonso . Ortiz . Handbook of North American Indians. 10 . 1983 . Smithsonian Institution . Washington, D.C.. 113–124 . Uto-Aztecan languages.
• Book: Campbell, Lyle. Lyle Campbell . 1997 . American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America . Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics, 4 . Oxford University Press. London and New York . 0-19-509427-1 . 32923907.
• Troike. Rudolf C. . 1988. Amotomanco (Otomoaca) and Tanpachoa as Uto-Aztecan languages. International Journal of American Linguistics. 54. 235–241. 10.1086/466084.

Notes and References

1. Book: Clark . Patricia Roberts . Tribal Names of the Americas: Spelling Variants and Alternative Forms, Cross-Referenced . 21 October 2009 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5169-2 . 10 . en.
2. Book: Zamponi, Raoul . The Languages and Linguistics of Indigenous North America . Unclassified languages . De Gruyter . 2024 . 978-3-11-071274-2 . 10.1515/9783110712742-061 . 1627–1648 .