Araucanian languages


The Araucanian languages, a small language family of indigenous languages of the Americas, is located in central Chile and neighboring areas of Argentina. The living representatives of this family are Mapudungun and Huilliche. These are sometimes considered divergent dialects of a single language isolate.

Demographics

It is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 Mapudungu-speakers in Chile and 40,000 speakers in Argentina. Huilliche is the native language of a few thousand Chileans.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Kunza, Mochika, Uru-Chipaya, Arawak, Pano, Cholon-Hibito, and Kechua language families due to contact.

Internal classification

Mason (1950)

Internal classification of Araucanian languages by Mason :
;Araucanian
Internal classification by Jolkesky :
;Mapudungun
lists the following basic vocabulary items for Mapuche language varieties.
glossMapuchePicunchePehuencheHuilicheChiloteRanquelche
onekiñekiñekiñekiñekengekiñe
twoepuepueepuepuepoepú
threekülakelakelakilakölakʔla
headlongkolonkorlonkolonkó
handkũkúükuüghechukeñeu
waterkokokokokugo
sunantuantüanteanteánteant'ü
moonkuyenküyénküyenkiyenkiénkiyet
maizevoewawawakáwa
birdgunúnüñemküñümgiñumtrarú
dogthehuathewathewatrehuacheuá
jaguarnahuelnahuelnawelnahuelnaue