Language Stock Proposals
See also: Category:Proposed language familiesMany hypothetical language phylum proposals concerning American languages are often cited as uncontroversially demonstrated in more popular writings. However, many of these proposals have, in fact, not been fully demonstrated if even at all. Some proposals are viewed by specialists in a favorable light, believing that genetic relationships are very likely to be established in the future (for example, the Penutian stock). Other proposals are more controversial with many linguists believing that some genetic relationships of a proposal may be demonstrated but much of it undemonstrated (for example, Hokan–Siouan, which, incidentally, Edward Sapir called his "wastepaper basket stock"). Still other proposals are almost unanimously rejected by specialists (for example, Amerind). Below is a (partial) list of some such proposals:
- Angonkian–Gulf
- Algonquian–Wakashan
- Almosan–Keresiouan
- Amerind
- (macro-)Arawakan
- Arutani–Sape
- Aztec–Tanoan
- Chibchan stock
- Chibchan–Paezan
- Chikitano–Boróroan
- Chimu–Chipaya
- Coahuiltecan
- Cunza–Kapixanan
- Dené–Yeniseian
- Dené–Caucasian
- Esmerelda–Yaruroan
- Ge–Pano–Carib
- Guamo–Chapacuran
- Gulf
- Hokan
- Hokan–Siouan
- Je–Tupi–Carib
- Jivaroan–Cahuapanan
- Kalianan
- Kandoshi–Omurano–Taushiro
- (Macro-)Katembri–Taruma
- Kaweskar language area
- Keresiouan
- Lule–Vilelan
- Macro-Andean
- Macro-Carib
- Macro-Chibchan
- Macro-Gê
- Macro-Jibaro
- Macro-Kulyi–Cholónan
- Macro-Lekoan
- Macro-Mayan
- Macro-Otomákoan
- Macro-Paesan
- Macro-Panoan
- Macro-Puinavean
- Macro-Siouan
- Macro-Tucanoan
- Macro-Tupí–Karibe
- Macro-Waikurúan
- Macro-Warpean
- Mataco–Guaicuru
- Mosan
- Mosetén–Chonan
- Mura–Matanawian
- Sapir's Na–Dené including Haida
- Nostratic–Amerind
- Paezan
- Paezan–Barbacoan
- Penutian
- California Penutian
- Oregon Penutian
- Mexican Penutian
- Puinave–Maku
- Quechumaran
- Saparo–Yawan
- Sechura–Catacao
- Takelman
- Tequiraca–Canichana
- Ticuna–Yuri (Yuri–Ticunan)
- Totozoque
- Tunican
- Yok-Utian
- Yuki–Wappo
Good discussions of past proposals can be found in Campbell (1997) and Campbell & Mithun (1979).
Amerindian linguist Lyle Campbell also assigned different percentage values of probability and confidence for various proposals of macro-families and language relationships, depending on his views of the proposals' strengths. For example, the Germanic language family would receive probability and confidence percentage values of +100% and 100%, respectively. However, if Turkish and Quechua were compared, the probability value might be -95%, while the confidence value might be 95%. 0% probability or confidence would mean complete uncertainty.
| Language Family | Probability | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Macro-Siouan | −20% | 75% |
| Aztec–Tanoan | 0% | 50% |
| Quechumaran | +50% | 50% |
| Eskimo–Aleut, Chukotan |
−25% | 20% |
| Na–Dene | 0% | 25% |
| Tlingit–Eyak–Athabaskan | +75% | 40% |
| Mosan | −60% | 65% |
| Wakashan and Chimakuan | 0% | 25% |
| Almosan (and beyond) | −75% | 50% |
| Hokan–Subtiaba | −90% | 75% |
| Coahuiltecan | −85% | 80% |
| Guaicurian–Hokan | 0% | 10% |
| Quechua as Hokan | −85% | 80% |
| Tunican | 0% | 20% |
| Natchez–Muskogean | +40% | 20% |
| Atakapa–Chitimacha | −50% | 60% |
| Gulf | −25% | 40% |
| Algonkian–Gulf | −50% | 50% |
| Mexican Penutian | −40% | 60% |
| Sahaptian–Klamath–(Molala) | +75% | 50% |
| Sahaptian–Klamath–Tsimshian | +10% | 10% |
| Takelman | +80% | 60% |
| Zuni–Penutian | −80% | 50% |
| Yukian–Siouan | −60% | 75% |
| Yukian–Gulf | −85% | 70% |
| Keresan and Zuni | −40% | 40% |
| Keresan and Uto-Aztecan | 0% | 60% |
| Macro-Mayan | +30% | 25% |
| Maya–Chipaya | −80% | 95% |
| Maya–Chipaya–Yunga | −90% | 95% |
| Otomanguean–Huave | +25% | 25% |
| Tlapanec–Subtiaba as Otomanguean | +95% | 90% |
| Jicaque–Subtiaba | −60% | 80% |
| Jicaque–Tequistlatecan | +65% | 50% |
| Jicaque–Hokan | −30% | 25% |
| Xinca–Lenca | 0% | 50% |
| Tarascan–Quechua | −90% | 80% |
| Misumalpan–Chibchan | +20% | 50% |
| Nostratic–Amerind | −90% | 75% |
Read more about this topic: Indigenous Languages Of The Americas
Famous quotes containing the words language, stock and/or proposals:
“He never doubts his genius; it is only he and his God in all the world. He uses language sometimes as greatly as Shakespeare; and though there is not much straight grain in him, there is plenty of tough, crooked timber.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.”
—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)
“One theme links together these new proposals for family policy—the idea that the family is exceedingly durable. Changes in structure and function and individual roles are not to be confused with the collapse of the family. Families remain more important in the lives of children than other institutions. Family ties are stronger and more vital than many of us imagine in the perennial atmosphere of crisis surrounding the subject.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)