Guachi language


Guachí is an extinct language isolate, possibly related to Guaicuruan, of Brazil. It is usually classified as one of the Guaicuruan languages, but the data is insufficient to demonstrate that. The people it was spoken by were Guaicuruanized.

Documentation

Guachi is known only from 145 words collected by Francis de Castelnau from March to early April 1845 in the Miranda area of Argentina.

Classification

Viegas Barros proposes that Guachi, as well as Payaguá, may be a Macro-Guaicurúan language. However, Campbell classifies Guachi as a language isolate.

Vocabulary

Guachi words and affixes listed in Viegas Barros :

Castelnau (1850)

The following vocabulary is taken from Castelnau's wordlist published in 1850.
French glossEnglish glossGuachí
DieuGodyathlein
Diabledeviloetcho
Hommemanchacup
Femmewomanoutié
Filssoninna
Filledaughterunajen
Têteheadiotapa
Cheveuxhairioatriz
Frontforeheadiatapole
Œileyeiataya
Cilseyelashiticha
Neznoseianoté
Unonetamak
Deuxtwoeu-echo
Troisthreeeu-echo-kailau
Quatrefoureu-echo-way
Cinqfivelocalau