The Otomanguean languages are a large family of indigenous languages of Mexico, comprising several subfamilies formerly spoken into Central America as far as Nicaragua and Costa Rica by the now-extinct Manguean branch. The family divides into a Western Oto-Mangue group, including the Oto-Pamean, Chinantecan and Tlapanec-Mangue languages, and an Eastern Oto-Mangue group, including the Popolocan, Zapotecan and Mixtecan-Amuzgoan languages. Its largest branches, Zapotecan and Mixtecan, are spoken mainly in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Facts
Partially Attested
Speaker CountNo single family-wide total is stated by the source. This is an approximate sum of the branch-level speaker figures the source itself gives (Zapotec c.785,000; Mixtec c.511,000; Mazahua c.350,000; Otomi c.239,000-293,000; Mazatecan c.120,000; Chinantecan c.93,000; Tlapanec c.75,000; Amuzgo c.44,000; Popoloca c.30,000; Trique c.24,500; Chatino c.23,000; Cuicatec c.15,000; remaining smaller branches a few thousand combined), rounded to approximately 2.3 million. RegionThe living Oto-Manguean languages are all indigenous to Mexico; the family's extinct Manguean branch was historically spoken as far south as Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 1 Proto-Language StatusNo full published reconstruction of Proto-Oto-Manguean exists, but the family is nonetheless widely accepted by specialists including Lyle Campbell, Terrence Kaufman and William Poser. 1 In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Oto-Manguean Languages
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, first paragraph
All of the Oto-Manguean languages that are now spoken are indigenous to Mexico, but the Manguean branch of the family, which is now extinct, was spoken as far south as Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
History of classification, Internal classification and reconstruction subsection
In spite of the lack of a full published reconstruction of Proto-Oto-Manguean, the language family has now been widely accepted by specialists, including Lyle Campbell, Terrence Kaufman, and William Poser.
Geography and demographics, Western and Eastern branch subsections
the two largest branches, the Zapotecan and the Mixtecan languages, are spoken by almost 1.5 million people combined
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.