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 (2012:116–130) 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.
Aarufi – Colombia
Aburuñe – Bolivia
Acarapi – Brazil
Aconipa (Tabancal, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known
Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru
Arda – Peru, Colombia (a purported language isolate called "Arda" has no relation, but was a misidentified vocabulary of the West African language
Popo (Gen))
Huambuco – Peru; might be a misspelling of Huánuco
Huayana – Peru
Huayla – Peru
Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño
Querandí (Carendie)[10] – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne. Loukotka (1968) gives the words zobá 'moon' and afia 'bow'
Quiquidcana (Quidquidcana, Kikidkana) – Peru
Quijo (Kijo) – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa (Chibchan), but only 3 words are known
Quillacinga (Quillasinga)[11] – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy; Fabre (1998:676) reports that the Kamsa (
Camsá, speakers of
a language isolate) are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga
Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 1 word is known
Quimbioá – Brazil
Quindío (Quindio) – Colombia
Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as Lengua (Yunga) Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al. (2010), a list of numbers was recently found
Qurigmã – Brazil
Rabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi (Murato), but there are similarities with Aguaruna (Jivaroan)
Roramí (Oramí) – Brazil
Sácata (Sacata, Zácata, Chillao) – Peru; extinct; may be Candoshi or Arawakan, but only 3 words known
Sacosi – Bolivia
Sacracrinha (Sequaquirihen) – Brazil
Sanavirón – Argentina, near Córdova. Loukotka classified it as an isolate, but there is insufficient data to justify this.
Qurigmã – the first inhabitants of São Salvador Bay (
Salvador, Bahia), state of Bahia.
Romarí or Omarí – originally spoken in the
Serra de Pao de Açúcar, state of Pernambuco. Now there are a few survivors with an unknown language in the village of
Propriá, Sergipe state.
Teremembe or Tremembé or Taramembé – originally spoken by a tribe on the coast between the mouth of the
Monim River and the mouth of the Chorro River (
Choró River), state of Ceará.
Tupijó – state of Bahia by the neighbors of the
Maracá tribe.
Taminani –
Uaçá River and Curupi River (
Curapi River), Amapá territory. All of the last survivors now speak only a French creole dialect.
Tapuisú – mouth of the
Maicurú River, Amapá territory.
Taripio – unknown language of an unknown tribe that lived to the north of the
Rangú tribe in the frontier area of the Brazilian state of Pará and Dutch Guiana.
Unainuman[21] - Içá River basin, short word list, Adelaar & Brijnen 2014
Urucucú(s)[22] - Tapajós River, unattested (see under Tapajó language)
Yanacona[23] - name is the Quechua word for 'serf'; perhaps early Colombian Quechua
Other
Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above.[24]
Boreal Pehuelche - Argentina, 1 word (apparently not the same as
Puelche)
Cabixi (Cabixi-Natterer) - Mato Grosso, Brazil, a short word-list.[25] The name '
Kabixí' is a generic name for any hostile group, and has been used for a number of unattested languages. An ISO code for it has been retired.
Enoo - Chile, a few words (a neighbor of the
Alacalufe)
Gamela of Viana - Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words (Nimendajú 1937:64) - presumably the same as
Gamela
Durbin, M.; Seijas, H. (1973). A Note on Panche, Pijao, Pantagora (Palenque), Colima and Muzo. International Journal of American Linguistics, 39:47-51.
References
^Campbell, Lyle, and Verónica Grondona (eds). 2012. The indigenous languages of South America: a comprehensive guide. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. [ISBN missing]
^Loukotka, Čestmír. 1968. Classification of South American Indian Languages Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, UCLA.
^Adelaar, Willem F.H., and Pieter C. Muysken. 2004. The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN missing]
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Colima". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Idabaez". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Kantarure". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Muzo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Panche". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Querandi". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Quillacinga". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Apoto". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Fayjatases". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Envuelto". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Guachipas". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Hoxa". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Pacahuaras-Castillo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Pitaguary". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Quepos". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Tembey". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Unainuman". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Urucucús". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Yanacona". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
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 (2012:116–130) 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.
Aarufi – Colombia
Aburuñe – Bolivia
Acarapi – Brazil
Aconipa (Tabancal, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known
Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru
Arda – Peru, Colombia (a purported language isolate called "Arda" has no relation, but was a misidentified vocabulary of the West African language
Popo (Gen))
Huambuco – Peru; might be a misspelling of Huánuco
Huayana – Peru
Huayla – Peru
Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño
Querandí (Carendie)[10] – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne. Loukotka (1968) gives the words zobá 'moon' and afia 'bow'
Quiquidcana (Quidquidcana, Kikidkana) – Peru
Quijo (Kijo) – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa (Chibchan), but only 3 words are known
Quillacinga (Quillasinga)[11] – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy; Fabre (1998:676) reports that the Kamsa (
Camsá, speakers of
a language isolate) are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga
Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 1 word is known
Quimbioá – Brazil
Quindío (Quindio) – Colombia
Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as Lengua (Yunga) Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al. (2010), a list of numbers was recently found
Qurigmã – Brazil
Rabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi (Murato), but there are similarities with Aguaruna (Jivaroan)
Roramí (Oramí) – Brazil
Sácata (Sacata, Zácata, Chillao) – Peru; extinct; may be Candoshi or Arawakan, but only 3 words known
Sacosi – Bolivia
Sacracrinha (Sequaquirihen) – Brazil
Sanavirón – Argentina, near Córdova. Loukotka classified it as an isolate, but there is insufficient data to justify this.
Qurigmã – the first inhabitants of São Salvador Bay (
Salvador, Bahia), state of Bahia.
Romarí or Omarí – originally spoken in the
Serra de Pao de Açúcar, state of Pernambuco. Now there are a few survivors with an unknown language in the village of
Propriá, Sergipe state.
Teremembe or Tremembé or Taramembé – originally spoken by a tribe on the coast between the mouth of the
Monim River and the mouth of the Chorro River (
Choró River), state of Ceará.
Tupijó – state of Bahia by the neighbors of the
Maracá tribe.
Taminani –
Uaçá River and Curupi River (
Curapi River), Amapá territory. All of the last survivors now speak only a French creole dialect.
Tapuisú – mouth of the
Maicurú River, Amapá territory.
Taripio – unknown language of an unknown tribe that lived to the north of the
Rangú tribe in the frontier area of the Brazilian state of Pará and Dutch Guiana.
Unainuman[21] - Içá River basin, short word list, Adelaar & Brijnen 2014
Urucucú(s)[22] - Tapajós River, unattested (see under Tapajó language)
Yanacona[23] - name is the Quechua word for 'serf'; perhaps early Colombian Quechua
Other
Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above.[24]
Boreal Pehuelche - Argentina, 1 word (apparently not the same as
Puelche)
Cabixi (Cabixi-Natterer) - Mato Grosso, Brazil, a short word-list.[25] The name '
Kabixí' is a generic name for any hostile group, and has been used for a number of unattested languages. An ISO code for it has been retired.
Enoo - Chile, a few words (a neighbor of the
Alacalufe)
Gamela of Viana - Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words (Nimendajú 1937:64) - presumably the same as
Gamela
Durbin, M.; Seijas, H. (1973). A Note on Panche, Pijao, Pantagora (Palenque), Colima and Muzo. International Journal of American Linguistics, 39:47-51.
References
^Campbell, Lyle, and Verónica Grondona (eds). 2012. The indigenous languages of South America: a comprehensive guide. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. [ISBN missing]
^Loukotka, Čestmír. 1968. Classification of South American Indian Languages Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, UCLA.
^Adelaar, Willem F.H., and Pieter C. Muysken. 2004. The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN missing]
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Colima". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Idabaez". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Kantarure". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Muzo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Panche". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Querandi". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Quillacinga". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Apoto". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Fayjatases". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Envuelto". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Guachipas". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Hoxa". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Pacahuaras-Castillo". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Pitaguary". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Quepos". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Tembey". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Unainuman". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Urucucús". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
^Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017).
"Yanacona". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.