The two Lule–Vilela languages constitute a small, distantly related
language family
A language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestor, called the proto-language of that family. The term ''family'' is a metaphor borrowed from biology, with the tree model used in historical linguistics ...
of northern Argentina. Kaufman found the relationship likely and with general agreement among the major classifiers of South American languages. Viegas Barros published additional evidence from 1996–2006. However, Zamponi (2008) considers Lule and Vilela each as language isolates, with similarities being due to contact.
Internal classification
Internal classification of the Lule–Vilela languages by
Mason (1950):
*Lule–Vilela
**
Lule
***Great Lule (of Miraflores, of Machoni)
***Small Lule
****Isistiné
****Tokistiné
****Oristiné
**
Vilela
***Atalalá
***Chunupí (Sinipé, Chulupí)
****Yooc (Yoo, Wamalca)
****Ocolé
****Yecoanita
***Pasain (Pazaine)
***Omoampa (Umuapa)
***Vacaa
***Vilela
***Ipa
***Takete
***Yoconoampa (Yecunampa)
***Wamalca
***(Malbalá ?)
Unclassfied languages are
Tonocoté, Matará, and Guacará.
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for Lule, Vilela, and Chunupí.
:
Proto-language
For reconstructions of Proto-Lule-Vilela by Viegas Barros (2006),
[Viegas Barros, J. Pedro (2006). ]
Proto-Lule-Vilela: Una Reconstrucción Fonológica Preliminar
'. Comisión “Lenguas Chaqueñas” del 52 Congreso Internacional de Americanistas. Sevilla (España): Universidad de Sevilla. 17-21 de julio de 2006. see the corresponding
Spanish article.
References
*
*
*
External links
*Alain Fabre. 2005. ''Diccionario etnolingüístico y guía bibliográfica de los pueblos indígenas sudamericanos.'
'Lule–Vilela'
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lule-Vilela languages
Languages of Argentina
Language families