List of unclassified languages of South America explained

The following purported languages of South America are listed as unclassified in Campbell (2012), Loukotka (1968), Ethnologue, and Glottolog. Nearly all are extinct. It is likely that many of them were not actually distinct languages, only an ethnic or regional name.

Campbell & Grondona (2012)

Campbell & Grondona (2012:116–130) lists the following 395 languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct.[1] Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968)[2] and Adelaar & Muysken (2004).[3] The majority are not listed in Ethnologue. The list is arranged in alphabetical order.

Loukotka (1968)

Loukotka (1968) lists the following languages of South America as unclassified. They are extinct unless otherwise noted.

Southern South America and Chacos Region

Divisions A (South) and B (Chaco) (Loukotka 1968: 63):

Central Brazil

Division C (Central Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 86–87):

Northeast Brazil

Division D (Northeast Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 92–95):

North Central South America

Tropical North Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 165–168):

South Central South America

Tropical South Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 178–179):

Central South America

Tropical Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 196–198):

Northeast South America

Tropical Northeast South America (Loukotka 1968: 228–230):

Northern Andes

Northern Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 259):

Former Inca Empire region

South Central Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 272–273):

Ethnologue

Ethnologue 26 lists the following languages of South America as unclassified:

However, Glottolog states that Agavotaguerra is not unclassified, but unattested; the only reports are that the Agavotaguerra speak Yawalapiti.

In addition, Ethnologue classifies Aikanã, Uamué and Xukurú, all of Brazil as isolates, but they are too poorly attested to classify.

Additional languages at Glottolog

In addition to many of the languages above, Glottolog lists the following:

Other

Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above.[5]

See also

Brazil

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Campbell, Lyle, and Verónica Grondona (eds). 2012. The indigenous languages of South America: a comprehensive guide. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
  2. Loukotka, Čestmír. 1968. Classification of South American Indian Languages Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, UCLA.
  3. Adelaar, Willem F.H., and Pieter C. Muysken. 2004. The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/5152 Isolado do Tanaru
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 2018-12-31 . 2018-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181231092715/http://www.italian-journal-linguistics.com/wp-content/uploads/Volume_29_Issue2_Appendice_Zamponi.pdf . dead .