Cariban languages


The Cariban languages are a family of languages indigenous to northeastern South America. They are widespread across northernmost South America, from the mouth of the Amazon River to the Colombian Andes, and they are also spoken in small pockets of central Brazil. The languages of the Cariban family are relatively closely related. There are about three dozen of them, but most of them are only spoken by a few hundred people—the only one with more than a few thousand speakers is Macushi, which has 30,000. The Cariban family is well known among linguists partly because one language in the family—Hixkaryana—has a default word order of object–verb–subject, which had previously been believed to not exist in any spoken natural language.
A few decades prior to the arrival of the first conquistadores, people who spoke a Cariban language expanded into the Lesser Antilles and killed or displaced and also mixed with the Arawak peoples who already inhabited the islands. The resulting language—Kalhíphona or Island Carib—was Carib in name but largely Arawak in substance. This happened because Carib men took Arawak wives, who then passed their language on to the children. For a time, Arawak was spoken by women and children and Carib by adult men, but as each generation of Carib-Arawak boys reached adulthood, they acquired less Carib until only basic vocabulary and a few grammatical elements were left. That form of Island Carib became extinct in the Lesser Antilles in the 1920s, but survives in the form of Garífuna, or "Black Carib," in Central America. The gender distinction has dwindled to only a handful of words. Dominica is the only island in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian population, the Carib Indians, about 3,000 of whom live on the island's east coast.

Genetic relations

The Cariban languages share irregular morphology with the Ge and Tupi families, and Ribeiro connects them all in a Je–Tupi–Carib family. Meira, Gildea, & Hoff note that likely morphemes in proto-Tupian and proto-Cariban are good candidates for being cognates, but that work so far is insufficient to make definitive statements.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Guato, Kawapana, Nambikwara, Taruma, Warao, Arawak, Bororo, Jeoromitxi, Karaja, Rikbaktsa, and Tupi language families due to contact.
Extensive lexical similarities between Cariban and various Macro-Jê languages suggest that Cariban languages had originated in the Lower Amazon region, where they were in contact with early forms of Macro-Jê languages, which were likely spoken in an area between the Parecis Plateau and upper Araguaia River.

Family division

The Cariban languages are closely related, and in many cases where a language is more distinct, this is due to influence from neighboring languages rather than an indication that it is not closely related. Kaufman 2007 says, "Except for Opon, Yukpa, Pimenteira and Palmela, the Cariban languages are not very diverse phonologically and lexically."

Previous classifications

Good data has been collected around ca. 2000 on most Cariban languages; classifications prior to that time are unreliable.
Several such classifications are seen; the one shown here divides Cariban into seven branches. A traditional geographic classification into northern and southern branches is cross referenced with or after each language.
Unclassified: Pimenteira ', Palmela '.
The extinct Patagón de Perico language of northern Peru also appears to have been a Cariban language, perhaps close to Carijona. Yao is so poorly attested that Gildea believes it may never be classified.

Meira (2006)

Preliminary internal classification of the Cariban languages according to Sérgio Meira :
;Cariban
As of Gildea, there had not yet been time to fully reclassify the Cariban languages based on the new data. The list here is therefore tentative, though an improvement over the one above; the most secure branches are listed first, and only two of the extinct languages are addressed.
Unclassified:

Jolkesky (2016)

Internal classification by Jolkesky :
;Karib
Below is a full list of Arawakan language varieties listed by Loukotka, including names of unattested varieties.
Western languages: Caraib / Calinago / Karib - language spoken by the insular and continental Caraibes, with many dialects:
;Eastern languages
;Trio group
;Chiquena group
;Waiwai group
;Yauapery group
;Pauishana group
;Macusi group
;Pemón group
;Maquiritaré group
;Mapoyo group
;Panare group
;Tamanaco group
;Yao group
;Shebayi group
;Motilon group
;Pijao group
;Opone group
;Carijona group
;Patagon group
;Arara group
;Palmela group
;Pimenteira group
;Xingú group
lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Cariban languages.
LanguageBranchheadeyetoothmanonetwothree
YarumaXingúu-viteye-nguruu-én
BakairíXingúx-ináraxux-ánux-yériagurótotokoleleasageahágetokólo
NahukwáXingúu-víteröu-vínuruu-vireutotoálechiatakeetila
KuikutlXingúu-ritölu-ínuruu-ílutóto
KalapaloXingúu-íköreu-ínoru
YamarikunáXingúu-ínoruu-iglutóto
AráraAráramuchínaoñurumayériukonenáneatagataganané
PariríAráramũchíunguruheéngol'ügóronanéatágatáganane
ApingiArárai-montxiangrungoyeriukonetoinéasakoroaséruao
PalmelaPalmelana-ápoónoyeréókaaropéahaohehua
PimenteiraPimenteirababuriönthuburüyarichä
PijaoPijaoluːntínkioréma
OponeOponeyu-úhyéuxórokírseneárokosáura
CarareOponesü-okoyeo
GuaqueCarijonaxutuyeyerigire
CarijonaCarijonautuhéyénuruyérikiretéuisekeneréseaueré
UmáuaCarijonabútuheyenuːruyeːligelétéuisakéneledyelauele
PatagonPatagon
YupeMotilono-hárzaánokiíkokürpatukumarkókosárkokoserárko
ChaqueMotilono-harzaanókiíkokürpakumarkokasarkokosera
MacoaMotilonyu-wasáanukiyiːkomashákumárkokósakkoséra
MaracaMotilonyu-wasayo-nu
PariríMotilonyu-wásayá-nukiʔikokipantukumárkukósaʔ
ShapáruMotilonyu-wásayá-nuyikumárkokósa
IrocaMotilontʔkúmaː
TamanacoTamanacoprutpeyanuruyeriipálichetevinachakeachilove
ChaymaTamanacoputpoyeruaikiritivinachakachorao
CumanagotaTamanacopuyarenuryeruaikíritivinasakveasorau
TivericotoTamanacoo-putpao-neanaovinokoorwa
PalenqueTamanaco
YaoYaoboppevokrehioselitewintageterewaw
ShebayiShebayiwa-kewüriwa-dakölinu-yeri
DecuánaMaquiritaréu-huhéénuyédetokomotoːnihakeaduáne
YecuanáMaquiritaréhóufu-yenuruyeːriareifhetauíniakehedáue
CunuanáMaquiritaréhú-ha
IhuruánaMaquiritaréhú-heyeːde
MapoyoMapoyouastarixene-yonuruxe-ñeiritokomotóskenasakanetominiakeré
YauaránaMapoyoexne-oaixtéliexne-nuruexne-yélitokúnuenix-péteasákepetomeyákele
PanárePanáreoʔóyoʔón
TaurepánTaurepánupaiyénuu-yékuraiteukinánsákeʔenéseulúana
ArecunaTaurepánpu-paiyenúu-yéuaratitäukinángsakeineisélehaúvane
CamaracotoTaurepánpupai-toenu-towaratotaʔakintsaganeetserau
IngaricoTaurepánu-paíu-yenúu-yéorauóteukíngatsalongkongetseuluaong-kóng
UaicaTaurepánienuru
AcawaiTaurepányu-popoyenuruyuwínowtidzyineasakróasorwo
MacusiMacusipo-paitenuu-yekáuaratáetiwingsagarésiruane
KeserumaMacusiyenupemóngótivín
PurucotoMacusihau-pupehau-yenúhau-yéewalaitóaleiniiniperkuruinialé
WayumaraMacusii-hubéyenurúi-yelétotótuevinéasáleeseuluó
ParaviyanaMacusii-pupáe-rénialöe-lelömeimunteuénaköunienolaulé
ZaparáMacusiune-kapúu-yonútopúpesóitxemenétulekalenóoláno
YauaperyYauaperyki-yókembáki-ärimarabáasikiusono
UaimiriYauaperyki-fókopanamareːki-erikumutareːunionoːtukunumáuruanoː
OrixanáYauaperyu-paiu-iniu-yetéitiamontuimosananeburésarsiua
PauishanaPauishanapuːpoyoːnoyeyungweiníkenaːnaataːreãná-mokaːre
WaiwaiWaiwaia-tipirie-oruko-yóritatachewñéasakíchorohoko
ParucotoWaiwaio-yúlako-yalitukinkaréasakenéserkuané
UaiboiWaiwaiku-nurúkamuhí
HishcarianaWaiwaikui-kuturuku-yotamushitonishásakósorowão
BonariWaiwaiiri-opónuru-báyoréukeréabanépademakáuruá
ChiquenaChiquenaya-nũruyolisotowinaliasagasorawau
SalumaChiquenayiwu-tupuliye-nu
PauxiChiquenatoto
UayeuéChiquenavu-turúu-yaritotó
CachuenaChiquenayo-soruyo-núruyorétotótuinaríasákiosoruaul
MutuanChiquenako-nofatiyurú
TrioTrioí-pútupoye-nurui-yerikirítinkiökönövoyerau
UrucuyenaTrioputpíi-eúyi-eːdaokiríwanánashakenéheruáu
WamaTriowi-pupoye-nuruye-ri
TliometesenTriooba-tuwirien-nuruoliːenkilitonikinisokororoebemüni
OcomayanaTriou-nuye
PianocotoTrioye-neiyu-taliokirí
RangúTrio
WaianaEasterne-putiüye-nuruyéreokiriuaptöhakenéeheruaé
UpuruiEasterne-putpiʔiye-nuruyéreokiri
RucuyeneEasternité-purue-nuruyeréokiritavenésakenéhéléuʔau
ApalaiEasternu-pupuanuderierituaseniasakoroeseuʔau
AracajúEasternseresaapükaua
CaraibWesternbúpué-huluyeriuakuriábamabíamaeleva
GalibiWesternu-pupue-nuruyeréokiriawínokuotereva
CaribisiWesternye-pupoye-nuruwokiriówéokoorwá
CaribeWesternada-puxodherebuköreóbinókoórwa
CariniacoWesterné-nuruyeriokiriowiuaririorowa
CarifWesternnábulutágubáriugíriábanabiámaíruwa

LanguageBranchwaterfiresunmoonmaizejaguararrow
YarumaXingúpárukampóntsizinunó
BakairíXingúpárupátochíshinúnaanádzyiakápüráu
NahukwáXingútunaitóritinuneanáikerehüré
KuikutlXingútunañorotékelitinúnetonuríñe
KalapaloXingúitoːturúgitiñe
YamarikunáXingúlitinúne
AráraAráraparúkampottitinúnakonatokorópuiram
PariríAráraparúkampótititunóhonáthogrópuyrém
ApingiAráraparukampotchichinunoanatokoripirem
PalmelaPalmelatunávavayéyuñúñaéñaokóropuera
PimenteiraPimenteiratunavafundititinuluthauatoprümachöpürarü
PijaoPijaotánanuhúgihuílnúnaxaguáde
OponeOponetunáfotóbuenokanómuesixákeyahá
CarareOponekʔarabwenuñemenyepak'anye
GuaqueCarijonatunamaxotovehinunakaikuchi
CarijonaCarijonatunaapotobeinunuakaikusixarakue
UmáuaCarijonatuːnamahótowéinuːneanaːdzyikaikudzyihuːya
PatagonPatagontunáanás
YupeMotilonkunaguestagüichókunaisóʔosamás
ChaqueMotilonkunahuetogichiokunomeisó
MacoaMotilonkúnahuétohuicholkuníkmeíshopuréyi
MaracaMotilonkuːnawhishtahuichokunueːshopuraye
PariríMotilonkánawuetawíchukúnu
ShapáruMotilonkúnawuéta
IrocaMotilonkuːnaesho
TamanacoTamanacodunáuaptoveyununaxexeakérepreu
ChaymaTamanacotunaapotovieyunoninamapokocheikupure
CumanagotaTamanacotunaveyunonumañazekozeikopreu
TivericotoTamanacotunaapotoniano
PalenqueTamanacotunaekere
YaoYaotunáuapotoveyononaaruamapuru
ShebayiShebayiwekulüekirtrireheweri
DecuánaMaquiritarétonawátocéinonanakchimáedohaxkúdi
YecuanáMaquiritarétunáwatozyinuːnamaroshimaːra
CunuanáMaquiritaréuáʔtoshinúnashimáda
IhuruánaMaquiritarétunáwátozyiːnuːne
MapoyoMapoyotunakátunnunaoxonaiékireúbuʔare
YauaránaMapoyotúnawátoyãtonunúnenáchihékelepákuli
PanárePanáreechár-kungüeguakenakxadpoʔót
TaurepánTaurepántunáapógwéikapéianainkaikusépeléu
ArecunaTaurepántunaapoväikapeáaʔanaigkaikusipureu
CamaracotoTaurepánapoiʔbekapuianaiʔkakutsepurau
IngaricoTaurepántunáápowéikapéianaíkaikushípelé
UaicaTaurepántunaapokueynuna
AcawaiTaurepántunowatovieyununokaikushipulewa
MacusiMacusitunauatóweikapoianainkaikushíeriu
KeserumaMacusi
PurucotoMacusitunaapotówéinánõkaikudzépoyá
WayumaraMacusitúnawatóweyúnunámazyinákaikushiheló
ParaviyanaMacusidónavuatútamananonéainiaineköléarámöu
ZaparáMacusitunáwatókapéianáeekeléurapóno
YauaperyYauaperytunáuatóeyúdéʔelikokoshíibikuari
UaimiriYauaperytunãuatoːeioːnunuebauhikúkúboimaprú
OrixanáYauaperytunáuatóueihuteparéeuáekeréupreu
PauishanaPauishanatunáuatóuainúnauátakauraːpa
WaiwaiWaiwaitunáwehtókamonunéyaypíwaywí
ParucotoWaiwaitunawituuchikapubeakeré
UaiboiWaiwaitunazyitónúna
HishcarianaWaiwaitonáwuhritókamaːnanoːnáwaiwí
BonariWaiwaitunáuatúweyukeripureːná
ChiquenaChiquenatunawihalasesiimhoklaho
SalumaChiquenatuna
PauxiChiquenatunaisirenuneuaupréu
UayeuéChiquenatunápiétokamonunámaipurikurumuri
CachuenaChiquenatunámirótóisósoimnóhonesekaikesúpraué
MutuanChiquenatunaritósoːrozyairúpurí
TrioTriotúnamataveyununöanaimaipuripléu
UrucuyenaTriotunámatouwinunamaipurípuréu
WamaTriotunamatoweipaora
TliometesenTriotonomatoweinunupotirerumashibulipureri
OcomayanaTriotunamatouwinuna
PianocotoTriotunamattowehnunaeñayemaipuripurau
RangúTriotumamatonuna
WaianaEasterntunauapotshishinunuöenaiyauéripleu
UpuruiEasterntunauapotshishinunuenaiyaueripiréu
RucuyeneEasterntunauapotchichinunuenaimaipuripiréu
ApalaiEasterntunaapotóchichinunóashinasemachipuripiróu
AracajúEasterntunauaptochichiyasüeuárapára
CaraibWesterntóneuátuhueyunúnúaoashikahikushibuleúa
GalibiWesterntunauatoveyununoauoasikaikusiplia
CaribisiWesterntunawatúwiyeyununopurewa
CaribeWesterntúnabedunúnoperöwa
CariniacoWesterntúnawatowedonunopuriui
CarifWesterndúnawátuuéyuhátauásgáigusiláru

Proto-language

Proto-Cariban reconstructions by Gildea :