Terena, chané, guaná and kinikinau are one and the same language: setting the record straight on southern Arawak linguistic diversity

In this paper I evaluate the available linguistic materials on Chané, Guaná and Kinikinau, often presented in comparative and referential works as distinct Southern Arawak languages. I argue that the existing evidence is not compatible with the recognition of these labels as denoting languages that...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Carvalho, Fernando
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Repositorio:Revista Liames (Online)
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br:article/8646165
Acceso en línea:https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/liames/article/view/8646165
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Arawak. Terena. Guaná. Kinikinau. Chané. Classificação
Linguística Histórica. Línguas Ameríndias
Terena
Guaná
Chané
Arawak
Classification.
Amerindian Languages
Descripción
Sumario:In this paper I evaluate the available linguistic materials on Chané, Guaná and Kinikinau, often presented in comparative and referential works as distinct Southern Arawak languages. I argue that the existing evidence is not compatible with the recognition of these labels as denoting languages that are distinct from the much better attested and still spoken Terena Language. Motivated by this conclusion – and by the fact that Guaná and Kinikinau confusingly refer to languages belonging to groups other than the Arawak family – I propose that the labels Chané, Guaná and Kinikinau should be dropped from linguistic classifications of the Arawak family and from reference works on the Chaco-Pantanal languages, as they misleadingly imply the existence of greater linguistic diversity than is actually the case. This proposal supports some referential classifications that have employed these labels either as alternative names of the language known as Terena or, at best, as denoting specific dialectal varieties thereof. Finally, I discuss some open issues regarding the internal diversity within these temporally and geographically separate varieties, including the role of contact with Guaraní and Guaicurúan groups.