Guajiboan languages
Guajiboan is a language family spoken in the Orinoco River region in eastern Colombia and southwestern Venezuela, a savanna region known as the Llanos.
Family division
Guajiboan consists of 5 languages:- Guajiboan
- * Macaguane
- * Southwest Guajiboan
- ** Guayabero
- ** Churuya
- * Central Guajiboan
- ** Guajibo
- *** Waü
- *** Newütjü
- *** Parawá
- *** Hamorúa
- *** Dome
- ** Cuiva
- *** Pimenepiwi
- *** Aitopiwi
- *** Yaraüraxi
- *** Waüpiwi
- *** Siripuxi
- *** Mayaraxi
Macaguane is listed as a dialect of Guajibo in Kaufman and Campbell. Gordon lists Playero, a dialect of Guajibo, as a separate language with a "low intelligibility of other Guahibo".
Guajibo and Cuiva form a dialect continuum.
Guajibo has the most speakers and is the largest indigenous group in eastern Colombia. Approximately 9,000 in Venezuela.
Guayabero is the most divergent language of the family.
Loukotka (1968)
;Guahibo group- Guahibo - language spoken by many tribes in Colombia and Venezuela on the Meta River, Arauca River, Vichada River, and Orinoco River.
- Dialects:
- Cuiloto - spoken on the Cuiloto River and Cravo Norte River, Arauca territory, Colombia.
- Cuiva - spoken on the Meta River, Vichada territory, Colombia.
- Amorúa - spoken in the same region on the Bita River.
- Chiricoa - spoken on the Ele River and Lipa River, department of Arauca, on the Cravo Norte River and Arauca River, Arauca territory, Colombia, and on the Cinaruquito River, Cinamco River, Capanaparo River, and Arichuna River, state of Apure, Venezuela.
- Sicuane - spoken on the Tuparro River, Vichada territory, Colombia.
- Cuiapo Pihibi - spoken on the Tomo River, Vichada territory.
- Yamu - spoken on the right bank of the Ariari River, Meta territory.
- Catarro - spoken in the Meta territory on the Yucavo River and in the old mission of San Miguel de Salivas.
- Chumya / Bisanigua - language, now probably extinct, once spoken on the Güejar River and in El Piñal.
- Guayabero / Guyaverun - spoken in the Meta territory on the Guayabero River.
Genetic relations
Guajiboan has often been grouped together with Arawakan, Arauan, and Candoshi by many classifiers. However, this now seems unlikely as the similarity between Guajiboan and Arawakan has been attributed to language contact.Language contact
Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Yanomami, Arawak, Nadahup, Puinave-Kak, Bora-Muinane, and Choko language families due to contact.Meléndez-Lozano has also noted that Guahiban has borrowed from Arawakan languages, especially the Achagua and Piapoco languages.
An automated computational analysis by Müller et al. found that there are apparent lexical similarities with Yanomami and Ticuna-Yuri. However, since the analysis was automatically generated, the similarities could be either due to mutual lexical borrowing, genetic inheritance, or chance resemblances.
Proto-language
Below are Proto-Guahiban reconstructions by Christian and Matteson :| no. | gloss | Proto-Guahiban |
| 1. | 'abdomen' | *-khoto |
| 2. | 'Adam's apple' | *-kuaY-to |
| 3. | 'agouti' | *bɨnɨ, *bɨNɨ |
| 4. | 'all' | *daxɨ́-ta |
| 5. | 'anaconda' | *homo-wábi |
| 6. | 'ant' | *pɨbɨ |
| 7. | 'ant' | *kha-kha-ra-wa |
| 8. | 'anteater' | *tsóNi |
| 9. | 'arm' | *-ma-xi/xa-si-pa-to |
| 10. | 'armadillo' | *tahaú-bi |
| 11. | 'arrow' | *pú/ku-yani |
| 12. | 'ash' | *i/a-pu-ma-na/Na |
| 13. | 'axe' | *sipá-li-a- |
| 14. | 'bad' | *a-béhe |
| 15. | 'bark' | *-bauko- |
| 16. | 'bat' | *hai-wi/si-ri-to |
| 17. | 'beard' | *-bixi/o-pina/piNa |
| 18. | 'bee ' | *habi/bara-moNɨ |
| 19. | 'big' | *pinihí-yi/nV |
| 20. | 'bite' | *síne, *síNe |
| 21. | 'black' | *-tsaebía-hawa |
| 22. | 'blood' | *háNa |
| 23. | 'bow ' | *bitsá-bi |
| 24. | 'breast' | *-mí-pa/pi-to |
| 25. | 'brush, woods' | *uéNu |
| 26. | 'buzzard' | *ké-ke-re |
| 27. | 'cane' | *mu/ba-se-bo |
| 28. | 'canoe' | *héra |
| 29. | 'capybara' | *húmo-ko-bi-to |
| 30. | 'chili pepper' | *noN-hi |
| 31. | 'chin' | *bɨxi- |
| 32. | 'cold' | *a-ke |
| 33. | 'come' | *patao-ho-pa |
| 34. | 'corn' | *hétsa |
| 35. | 'crocodile' | *makhiNe-he |
| 36. | 'cultivated clearing' | *pábi |
| 37. | 'curassow' | *iɨhɨ-bɨrɨ |
| 38. | 'day' | *mata-kái-bi |
| 39. | 'die' | *tɨpa |
| 40. | 'dig' | *kúa |
| 41. | 'doorway' | *bau-pha-ka |
| 42. | 'down' | *bé-reka |
| 43. | 'drink' | *ápa |
| 44. | 'dry' | *tséawa |
| 45. | 'dull' | *a-wóno-bi |
| 46. | 'ear ' | *muxu/mi-Yó-lo/ri-to |
| 47. | 'earth' | *íra |
| 48. | 'eat' | *xáne, *xáNe |
| 49. | 'egg' | *tobɨ |
| 50. | 'eye' | *takhú |
| 51. | 'far' | *tahɨ |
| 52. | 'father' | *p-áxa |
| 53. | 'fear' | *ku-húnawa, *ku-húNawa |
| 54. | 'finger' | *ko-besí/tíya |
| 55. | 'fire' | *iso, nawa |
| 56. | 'firewood' | *íso |
| 57. | 'first' | *kopiaya-pita |
| 58. | 'fish' | *duhuaY |
| 59. | 'fish hook' | *kulupú-bo |
| 60. | 'flesh' | *-wúi |
| 61. | 'flower' | *-ma-tóNo-to |
| 62. | 'fly ' | *dáina-, *dáiNa- |
| 63. | 'foot' | *tákhua |
| 64. | 'forehead' | *-ta-pa-thái- |
| 65. | 'fruit' | *bobo-kuí |
| 66. | 'full' | *wiNíka |
| 67. | 'fur' | *-ná-i |
| 68. | 'gourd' | *dére-bɨ |
| 69. | 'grease' | *-nasí-tsi-/-wa, *-Na-sí-tsi/wa |
| 70. | 'guan' | *kuYu-wi |
| 71. | 'hair' | *ma-ta-nao |
| 72. | 'hammock' | *buu |
| 73. | 'hand' | *-kóbe |
| 74. | 'he' | *khum-po-ni |
| 75. | 'hear' | *húme-tane, *húme-taNe |
| 76. | 'heart' | *-humata-bɨ-ɨthɨ-to |
| 77. | 'heavy' | *a-réwi |
| 78. | 'hen' | *wakará |
| 79. | 'here' | *hó-ta |
| 80. | 'his' | *pE- |
| 81. | 'hold' | *xáina, *xáiNa |
| 82. | 'hot' | *a-táhu-enik |
| 83. | 'house' | *bau |
| 84. | 'how' | *pa-kuénia, *pa-kuéNia |
| 85. | 'huge rocks' | *p-ĩbo-to |
| 86. | 'hummingbird' | *se-si-bá-ri/-u/-Ci-to |
| 87. | 'husband' | *-amuNa-to |
| 88. | 'husband' | *-pébi |
| 89. | 'I' | *xá-ni |
| 90. | 'iguana' | *matíbi |
| 91. | 'imperative' | *-ma |
| 92. | 'imperative' | *-re |
| 93. | 'in, at' | *-ta |
| 95. | 'intestines' | *-ɨ́nɨ |
| 96. | 'island' | *tuanái-to |
| 97. | 'jaguar' | *neúthɨ |
| 98. | 'kill' | *beaxú-a-ba |
| 99. | 'knee' | *-ma-ta-baókao |
| 100. | 'know' | *yapí-tane, *yapí-taNe |
| 101. | 'lake' | *púka |
| 102. | 'he down' | *rúka |
| 103. | 'lightning' | *Yáamaxɨ |
| 104. | 'lip' | *Ci-uphi-Yólo/ri |
| 105. | 'liver' | *pa-hapa- |
| 106. | 'long' | *a-pía |
| 107. | 'long hair' | *ã-ma-tao-ná-pia, *ã-ma-tao-Ná-pia |
| 108. | 'louse' | *talí |
| 109. | 'lower arm' | *ma-xi-sí-pa-pa |
| 110. | 'lower leg' | *sí-to |
| 111. | 'lungs' | *ka-fo-fóbi |
| 112. | 'macaw' | *máha |
| 113. | 'man' | *pébĩ |
| 114. | 'manioc' | *bawá |
| 115. | 'manioc flour' | *matsúka |
| 116. | 'many' | *na-wi-ta |
| 117. | 'miriti palm' | *ino-hóa-bo/to |
| 118. | 'monkey, howler' | *níhẽ |
| 119. | 'mosquito' | *wéasɨ |
| 120. | 'mother' | *p-éna |
| 121. | 'mouth' | *kui-bo-to |
| 122. | 'my' | *ta-x |
| 123. | 'my' | *taha- |
| 124. | 'name' | *-wɨ́-ni |
| 125. | 'near' | *imokhó-yo |
| 126. | 'neck' | *Ce-i-sí-to |
| 127. | 'new' | *ha-na-ha-wa, *ha-Na-ha-wa |
| 128. | 'night' | *meráwi |
| 129. | 'nose' | *phúmu |
| 130. | 'old man' | *perú-hu-ni/wa-yo |
| 131. | 'old woman' | *perú-hu-wa |
| 132. | 'one' | *kaé-haewa |
| 133. | 'otter' | *bohóNao-wi |
| 134. | 'our' | *wa-ha |
| 135. | 'our' | *pa-ta |
| 136. | 'paca' | *opheá-bi |
| 137. | 'paddle' | *ka-téna-pa, *ka-téNa-pa |
| 138. | 'parakeet' | *tsé-le/Ci-to |
| 139. | 'parrot' | *óNau |
| 140. | 'path, trail, road' | *nã-mue-to |
| 141. | 'pebbles' | *síki-ibo-to-xi/tiyo |
| 142. | 'white-lipped peccary' | *habítsa |
| 143. | 'collared peccary' | *tsamaú-li |
| 144. | 'people' | *híwi |
| 145. | 'piranha' | *kowára-bo |
| 146. | 'piranha' | *fe-le-le-va- |
| 147. | 'push' | *to-ró-/tá-ba |
| 148. | 'rain' | *éma |
| 149. | 'rattle' | *tsi-tsí-bu |
| 150. | 'rattlesnake' | *yaa-sí-to |
| 151. | 'red' | *tsobía |
| 152. | 'river, stream' | *méne, *méNe |
| 153. | 'river turtle' | *hála |
| 154. | 'root' | *-tabú-topa |
| 155. | 'rope' | *-amí-to |
| 156. | 'saliva' | *-i-óne, *-i-óNe |
| 157. | 'sand' | *tahita-atsa |
| 158. | 'see' | *tá-Ne/naɨ/ne-kota |
| 159. | 'seed' | *-xú- |
| 160. | 'sew' | *horáuka |
| 161. | 'she' | *pó-wa |
| 162. | 'shoulder' | *-wɨ/o-tá-kura |
| 163. | 'shoulder' | *kóf-ia/eri |
| 164. | 'sing' | *na-xɨ́ana, *na-xɨ́aNa |
| 165. | 'sit' | *éka |
| 166. | 'skin' | *pera-bo/i |
| 167. | 'sky' | *itá-bokhau |
| 168. | 'sleep' | *mahí-ta/teka |
| 169. | 'smell' | *tuxú-ne/na/Ne/Na |
| 170. | 'smooth' | *kóni-hai |
| 171. | 'snake' | *hómo |
| 172. | 'spider' | *khaumɨ-bɨ-to |
| 173. | 'split' | *waúkoba |
| 174. | 'stand' | *Núka |
| 175. | 'stick' | *náe-hava/wa-ta |
| 176. | 'stomach' | *kó-to/so-to/-ro |
| 177. | 'stone' | *ibó- |
| 178. | 'sun' | *húami-to |
| 179. | 'sweet potato' | *dáithi |
| 180. | 'swell' | *ya-hín/Na |
| 181. | 'tail' | *bosó-to |
| 182. | 'tapir' | *métsa-ha |
| 183. | 'termite' | *ophó |
| 184. | 'that' | *bahará-xua |
| 185. | 'their' | *pe- |
| 186. | 'their' | *pi-ha/yeníhi- |
| 187. | 'they' | *po-món/Nae |
| 188. | 'thick' | *aitayáɨ |
| 189. | 'thigh' | *-topa-thái |
| 190. | 'think' | *nahunatabi xáin/Na |
| 191. | 'this' | *xuá |
| 192. | 'thou' | *xámɨ |
| 193. | 'toad' | *busɨ-to |
| 194. | 'tobacco' | *tséma |
| 195. | 'tongue tip' | *e-bá-rɨ-to-kopi-a |
| 196. | 'tooth' | *-a-wáuno |
| 197. | 'toucan' | *tuikuékue |
| 198. | 'tree, stick' | *náe-hava, *hae-wa |
| 199. | 'upper back' | *-hu-ma |
| 200. | 'village' | *tómara |
| 201. | 'vomit' | *y/n-akába |
| 202. | 'walk' | *póna-pona |
| 203. | 'wash' | *ki-á-ta |
| 204. | 'water' | *mé-ra |
| 205. | 'we' | *waxái-tsi |
| 206. | 'when' | *detsa/eta-pao-kuín/Naehi |
| 207. | 'whip' | *détsa/éta hóta |
| 208. | 'wife' | *piha-wa |
| 209. | 'wind' | *hoibóa |
| 210. | 'wing' | *kúarau-fe |
| 211. | 'woman' | *pe-tíri-wa |
| 212. | 'worm' | *oro |
| 213. | 'wrist' | *kóbe-ya-vére/hóri-to |
| 214. | 'ye' | *pa-xá-mi |
| 215. | 'year' | *wái |
| 216. | 'your ' | *pa-n/Ne- |
| 217. | 'your ' | *ni-hi |