Matacoan languages

Matacoan (also Mataguayan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, Mataco–Mataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.

Family division
Matacoan consists of four clusters of languages. The family also has a clear binary split between Wichí-Chorote and Maká-Nivaclé according to Nikulin (2019). Gordon (2005) in Ethnologue divides Wichí into three separate languages and Chorote into two languages.


 * Matacoan
 * Wichí-Chorote
 * Wichí (also known as Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo. The name Mataco is common but pejorative.)
 * Vejoz (also known as Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz)
 * Noktén (also known as Noctén, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten)
 * Wiznay (also known as Güisnay, Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay)
 * Matawayo (also known as Matahuayo).
 * Chorote (also known as Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)
 * Manhui (also known as Manjuy, Iyo’wujwa Chorote)
 * Eklenhui (also known as Eclenjuy, Eklehui, Iyojwa’ja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti).
 * Maká-Nivaclé
 * Nivaclé (also known as Chulupí–Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.)
 * Forest Nivaclé
 * River Nivaclé
 * Maká (also known as Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, Mak’á, Enimaca, Enimaga)
 * Ma’ká (also known as Towolhi)
 * Enimaga (also known as Enimaa, Kochaboth)

Mason (1950)
Internal classification by Mason (1950):


 * Mataco-Maca
 * Mataco
 * Mataco-Mataguayo
 * Mataco
 * Guisnay
 * Nocten (Octenai)
 * Mataguayo
 * Northern: Hueshuo, Pesatupe, Abucheta
 * Southern: Vejoz
 * Chorotí-Ashluslay
 * Chorotí (Yofuaha)
 * Ashluslay (Chulupí, Chonopí, Sukin, Sotiagay, Tapieté)
 * Macá (Enimagá, Cochaboth, Guaná, Lengua)
 * Enimagá
 * Macá (Towothli, Toosle)
 * Guentusé
 * Cochaboth-Lengua

Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Matacoan languages.

Proto-language
For a reconstruction of Proto-Mataguayo by Viegas Barros (2002), see the corresponding Spanish article.