The Chonan languages are an extinct family of indigenous languages spoken in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. Two are well attested: Selknam, also called Ona, spoken by the people of the same name in the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, and Tehuelche, spoken by the people of the same name north of Tierra del Fuego. The family's name comes from the Selknam word conn, meaning man.
Facts
Partially Attested
Proto-Language StatusNo Proto-Chonan reconstruction has been published. Two languages, Selknam and Tehuelche, are well attested; Viegas Barros (2005) proposed extending the family to include Gununa Kune to the north, a proposal Lyle Campbell has since taken up, though this remains an unconfirmed proposal rather than an established reconstruction. 1 No Proto-Chonan reconstruction has been published. Two languages, Selknam and Tehuelche, are well attested; Viegas Barros (2005) proposed extending the family to include Gununa Kune to the north, a proposal Lyle Campbell has since taken up, though this remains an unconfirmed proposal rather than an established reconstruction. RegionPatagonia and the Pampas, spanning Tierra del Fuego and continental Argentina. 1 Speaker Count In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Chonan Languages
Wikimedia FoundationChonan languages, Wikipedia, infobox region field
[[Patagonia]] and [[Pampas]]
Chonan languages, Wikipedia, infobox extinct field
2019, with the death of [[Dora Manchado]] (Tehuelche)
Chonan languages, Wikipedia, Classification section
Viegas Barros (2005) attempts to demonstrate that [[Gününa Küne language|Gününa Küne]] to the north is related to the Chon languages and would constitute one branch of an extended Chonan family. This proposal has been picked up by [[Lyle Campbell]].
View the Source Wikidata: Chonan
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.