Jaikó language


Jaikó is an extinct language of southeastern Piauí, Brazil, known only from an 1867 wordlist with interference from neighboring languages. It is considered a Macro-Jê language, but not always in the Jê language branch.

Classification

Based on a 67-word list from the 19th century in von Martius, it appears to be a Jê language.
However, Ramirez et al. doubts the accuracy of von Martius' list, and notes that the word list may actually consist of a wide mixture of languages spoken in Piauí, including from Pimenteira and Masakará. Nevertheless, Nikulin still finds convincing evidence that Jaikó was a Macro-Jê language, but does not consider it to be within the Jê branch. At least 13 words from Martius' wordlist belong to a Macro-Jê language.
Loukotka lists some other languages, all unattested, supposedly spoken in Piauí and Pernambuco states and related to Jaikó.Eastern Timbirá – once spoken in the state of Piauí between the Itaim and Parnaíba Rivers.Aruá – once spoken in Piauí state between the Itaim and Jaguariba Rivers.Pontá – once spoken on an island in the São Francisco River near the city of Quebrobó, Pernambuco state; Portuguese is now spoken.

Geographical distribution

Jaikó was spoken around the aldeia of Cajueiro, located in what is now southeastern Piauí state. The name is derived from the town of Jaicós, which was located in the Jaikó people's territory around the Canindé River and Gurgueia River.

Vocabulary

The full Geicó word list from von Martius, with both the original Latin glosses and translated English glosses, is reproduced below.
Latin gloss
English gloss
Geicó
aethiopissablack womantacayo
asso, areroasttiloschung
audio, irehearuschiegkó
aurisearaischeroh
avunculusuncleiquaté
brachiumarmaepang
brevis, eshortnohtutudäng
calidus, a, umhotijahú
capillushairgrangsché
caputheadgrangblá
coelumskymaecó
collumneckaepurgó
costaribaemantaelä
denstoothayanté
diabolusdevilpocklaeschü aqälé
diesdaytipiaco
digitusfingeraenaenongklang
domushouseyrouró
dormio, iresleepuhliong
edo, ereeattiqua
femurthighaecroh
filiadaughterscharrepiú
filiussonscharrété
foedus, a, umtreatynohmĕlĕniheh
foliumleafarandische
frigidus a, umcoldohntü
homo albuswhite mantipiaeung
homo nigerblack mantickah
ignisfireping
juvenisyoungoopáung
lavo, arewashnamblú
linguatongueaenettá
longus, a, umlongnohriähniheng
lunamoonpaang
macer, a, umthin nohnpütü
mammabreastaejussi
manushandaenaenong
matermotherná
membr. vir.man, maleaereng
membr. mul.woman, femaleaeoaénū
moriordienongroh
nasusnoseaenecopiöh
noxnightcoco
occidofalltiuing
oculuseyealepuh
os, orismouthaingko
palerstickjá
patera cucurbitinagourd bowlaerû
pectusbreastaejussi
pesfootaepähno
pinguis, efat nohtŏnĭheh
puellagirljuckqué
pulcher, a, umbeautifulnohräniheh
ramusbrancharandische
semiaethiops mulattomandattú
solsunchügkrá
sororsisternempiaepiú
stellastarbräcklüh
sylvaforestoütü
tabacumtobaccopâeih
terraearthchgkü
trullaladlecărá
venterbellyaepu
ventuswindongkthü
video, ereseeuepú
umbilicusnavelaequakrüng
unguisfingernailaenaenongsiaé