Jirajaran languages

Characteristics

Based on the little documentation that exists, a number of typological characteristics are reconstructable:

1. VO word order in transitive clauses

apasi mamán (Jirajara)I.cut my.handI cut my hand

2. Subjects precede verbs

depamilia buratá (Ayamán)the.family is.goodThe family is good

3. Possessors which precede the possessed

shpashiú yemún (Ayamán)arc its.ropethe arc of the rope

4. Adjectives follow the nouns they modify

pok diú (Jirajara)hill bigbig hill

5. Numerals precede the nouns they quantify

boque soó (Ayamán)one cigaretteone cigarette

6. Use of postpositions, rather than prepositions

angüi fru-ye (Jirajara)I.go Siquisique-toI go to Siquisique.

Classification

The Jirajaran languages are generally regarded as isolates. Adelaar and Muysken note certain lexical similarities with the Timotean languages and typological similarity to the Chibchan languages, but state that the data is too limited to make a definitive classification. Jahn, among others, has suggested a relation between the Jirajaran language and the Betoi languages, mostly on the basis of similar ethnonyms. Greenberg and Ruhlen classify Jirajaran as belonging to the Paezan language family, along with the Betoi languages, the Páez language, the Barbacoan languages and others.

Family Division

Based on adequate documentation, three languages are definitively classified as belonging to the Jirajaran family:

Jirajara, spoken in the state of Falcón

Ayomán, spoken in the village of Siquisique in the state of Lara

Gayón, spoken at the sources of the Tocuyo River in the state of Lara

Loukotka includes four additional languages, for which no linguistic documentation exists:

Coyone, spoken at the sources of the Portuguesa River in the state of Portuguesa

Cuiba, spoken near the city of Aricagua

Atatura, spoken between the Rocono and Tucupido rivers

Aticari, spoken along the Tocuyo River