| Chonan | |
|---|---|
| Patagonian | |
| Geographic distribution | Patagonia |
| Extinct | 2019, with the death ofDora Manchado (Tehuelche) 1 fluent L2 speaker (2014, Selkʼnam) |
| Linguistic classification | One of the world's primary language families |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | chon1288 |
 Het, Gününa Yajich (Puelche), and Chon proper | |
TheChonan languages are a family of indigenous American languages which were spoken inTierra del Fuego andPatagonia. Two Chonan languages are well attested:Selkʼnam (or Ona), spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory in the northeast of Tierra del Fuego; andTehuelche, spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory north of Tierra del Fuego. The name of the family is fromčonn, the Selkʼnam word for 'man'.[1]
TheHaush spoke a language similar to Ona. Some scholars also add to the family theTeushen language—once spoken by theTeushen, located between the Tehuelche and Puelche—though it is poorly attested.
Viegas Barros (2005) attempts to demonstrate thatGününa 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 byLyle Campbell.[2] Based on the scanty evidence that is available, theHet peoples (or at least the Didiuhet [Querandí]) might be speakers of languages within the proposed Puelche branch.
If this is correct, the Chon family would be as follows:
| Chonan | |
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for thePatagon (Chonan), Gennaken, and Chechehet (Het) languages.[3] Additional words are also provided.[4][5][6][7]
| gloss | Patagon (Chonan) languages | Gennaken (Gününa Küne) | Chechehet (Het) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selkʼnam | Mánekenkn | Téuesh | Péeneken | Áoniken | Chechehet | Querandí | ||
| one | shórsh | setaul | xáuken | háuke | chochä | chéye | ||
| two | shóki | aim | xaukáya | xoxieg | xánkä | päch | chivil | |
| ear | shün | shunó | shán | shaʔa | shán | chütsk | ||
| tooth | orx | ánktn | korr | urr | hor | xaye | ||
| hand | chen | shakut | chan | kʔchen | chen | yapal | ||
| foot | yul | halié | kel | kel | kel | yapgit | ||
| sun | kren | anián | sheuen | sheuen | sheuen | apiúkük | ||
| moon | kre | anim | teruch | kenginkon | kängünkon | apioxok | zobá | |
| dog | uéshn | ishna | xelxénoe | shamehuen | xälänuü | dáshü | ||
| earth | harwn | geut, geute | tēm | atek | chu | |||
| bow | hàʔ | yakak | afia | |||||
| great | hati | |||||||