Tonocoté language

Tonocoté is an extinct language formerly spoken in Argentina by the Tonocoté. It has been historically associated with the Lule language. It is very poorly known from one three-word phrase which is completely different from its Lule equivalent.

History

The earliest colonial sources maintain that Tonocoté and Lule were distinct languages. However, the 1732 Lule grammar written by Antonio Machoni titled Arte y vocabulario de la lengua lule y tonocoté also includes "Tonocoté" in the title. As a result, the genetic affiliation of Tonocoté has been hotly debated by several authors. Various hypotheses for its affiliation include relationships with Cacán, Guarani, or even Matacoan. The most common of these has been a link with the Lule language.

Attestation

One three-word phrase glossed as 'God regards you' translated into six different Indigenous languages of western South America contains the only known attestation of Tonocoté, being Tius cahas paneh. The only analyzable word is Tius, clearly having a Spanish origin.