| Cochimí | |
|---|---|
| Laymón | |
| Native to | Mexico |
| Region | Baja California |
| Ethnicity | Cochimí people |
| Extinct | early 20th century[1] |
Yuman–Cochimí
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | coj |
coj | |
| Glottolog | coch1272 |
| ELP | Laimón |
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Cochimí is an extinct language which was once the language of the greater partBaja California, as attested byJesuit documents of the 18th century. It seems to have become extinct around the beginning of the 20th century.[1] (Modern "Cochimi"-speakers are actually speakers ofKumiai.) There were two main dialects, northern and southern; the dividing line was approximately atMisión San Ignacio Kadakaamán, in the north of present-dayBaja California Sur.
The Jesuit texts establish that the language was related to theYuman languages of theColorado River region. It is thought to be the most divergent language of the family, which is generally calledYuman–Cochimí to reflect this. Based onglottochronology studies, the separation between Cochimi and the Yuman languages is believed to have occurred about 1000 BC.[2]
Cochimí is also known asLaimón,Cadegomeño,Cochimtee,Cochetimi,Cochima,Didiu,Laymonem,Laymon-Cochimi,San Javier,San Xavier,San Joaquín,San Francesco Saverio Mission,San Francisco Xavier de Viggé-Biaundo Mission,Peninsula Yuman,Cadegomeno andLaymon.[3]
The phonology of the Cochimí language is likely[clarification needed] as follows:[4]
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | lab. | ||||||
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | p | t | tʃ | k | kʷ | ʔ |
| voiced | b | d | ɡ | ||||
| Fricative | s | ʃ[a] | x | xʷ | |||
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |||
| Lateral | l | ||||||
| Approximant | j | w | |||||
Voiced consonants likely could have been either separate phonemes or allophones of voiceless sounds.
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Close | i | u |
| Mid | (e) | (o) |
| Open | a | |
Mid vowels may be alternated with close vowel sounds.
Following is theLord's Prayer in the dialect of San Ignacio Kadakaamán, recorded byFrancisco Javier Clavijero from the work of the missionaries Barco and Ventura, which has been lost.[5]
Va-bappà amma-bang miamù,
ma-mang-à-juà huit maja tegem:
Amat-ma-thadabajuà ucuem:
Kem-mu-juà amma-bang vahi-mang amat-à-nang la-uahim.
Teguap ibang gual gùieng-à-vit-à-juà iban-à-nang packagit:
muht-pagijuà abadakegem, machi uayecg-juà packabaya-guem:
Kazet-à-juangamue-gnit-pacum:
guang mayi-acg packabanajam.
Amén.