| Alacalufan | |
| Also Known As: | Kawesqaran |
| Ethnicity: | Alacaluf people |
| Region: | Chile |
| Familycolor: | American |
| Family: | One of the world's primary language families |
| Iso5: | aqa |
| Glotto: | kawe1237 |
| Glottorefname: | Kawesqar |
| Child1: | Kawesqar |
| Child2: | Central Alacaluf † |
| Child3: | Southern Alacaluf † |
The Alacalufan languages or Kawesqaran languages are a small language family of South America. They have not been definitely linked to any other American language family.[1] [2]
Early vocabularies show that Alakaluf was three languages, with an extinct Southern Alakaluf (vocabularies in Fitz-Roy 1839 and Hyades & Deniker 1891) and Central Alakaluf (vocabularies in Borgatello 1928, Marcel 1892, and Skottsberg 1913) in addition to the critically endangered northern variety, Kawésqar.[3]
Based on alleged toponymic evidence, a purported Kakauhua language has sometimes been included in the Alacalufan family.
Guaicaro may have been a dialect of Central Alakaluf or Kawesqar.
Chono, Caraica (Karaika), and Poya may also belong.
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.[5]
| gloss | Northern Alcaluf | Southern Alcaluf | Kaueskar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tongue | lekél | paileaf | kalaktás | |
| hand | palkár | yukebe | terwá | |
| water | karkasa | arrét | chfalai | |
| moon | dzyakapés | yakapech | kapánuk | |
| dog | salki | shalki | kyurro | |
| fish | xawoel | orol | keuwako | |
| canoe | peler | cherru | kaief |