Comparative Studies in Amerindian Languages

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate by rigorous application of standard
techniques of the comparative method, t h e g e n e t ic r e l a t i o n s h i p o f a
WIDE SAMPLING OF GROUPS OF AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES. Proto phonemes
are postulated and their reflexes traced through a corpus large enough to
reasonably confirm sets of phonological porrespondences. Similarities in
grammatical structure are implied in morpheme divisions of many of the
proto words. Although discussed only briefly in this paper, these grammatical
resemblances provide considerable material for a comparative study of morphologies.
The present comparison includes the following linguistic groups : Algonkian,
Gulf (represented largely by Tunica), Hokan (represented by citations from
particular languages), Uto-Aztecan, Arawakan, Mayan, Chibchan, Quechuan
(represented by citations from particular dialects and/or languages), Guahiban, Tucanoan, Witotan (represented mainly by citations from Muinane
VVitoto), Boran (represented by citations from Muinane Bora), Tupi-Guaranian, Tacanan, Panoan, Siouan, and Ge (represented by citations from Apinaye) ; as well as three languages which are isolates or of uncertain classifications : Paez, Camsa, and Guambiano.