Kamëntšá language

Kamëntšá, commonly rendered Camsá or Sibundoy in old sources, is a language isolate and native language of the Kamëntšá people who primarily inhabit the Sibundoy Valley of the Putumayo Department in the south of Colombia.

Classification

Kamëntšá appears to be a language isolate. Researchers have tried connecting it to the Chibchan languages without success. Fabre reports that the Kamëntšá are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga[es], whose language is unattested.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Choco languages due to contact.

Varieties

Mason lists the following names as Coche (Mocoa) varieties.

• Sebondoy
• Quillacinga
• Patoco

Phonology

Consonants

Howard and O'Brien call the retroflex phonemes in the above table retroflex, while Huber & Reed use the alveolo-palatal symbols. More specifically, Howard uses ⟨tṣ⟩ and ⟨ṣ⟩, O'Brien uses ⟨tʂ⟩ and ⟨ʂ⟩, and Huber & Reed use ⟨tɕ⟩ and ⟨ɕ⟩.

Vowels

Huber & Reed, Howard, and O'Brien all analyze six vowel phonemes in Kamëntšá: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, and /ɨ/. O'Brien notes that /ɨ/ has a limited distribution and is rarely found at the beginnings of words, and that [i] in many cases may be an allophone of /e/ before palatal consonants. Howard found that /i/ and /e/ fluctuate in some morphemes, as do /u/ and /o/.

Grammar

Kamëntšá is a polysynthetic language with prefixes and suffixes. It also has dual number, which is unusual for languages around it.

Vocabulary

Huber & Reed's book provides a comparison between 68 indigenous languages of Colombia. The following table provides the order of words in the book, along with glosses in English and Spanish. The Kamëntšá words follow their orthography, i.e., using ⟨tɕ⟩ and ⟨ɕ⟩ instead of ⟨ʈʂ⟩ and ⟨ʂ⟩.

no.English glossSpanish glossCamsánotes 001tonguelenguabitʃtá-xa 002mouthbocawajá-ɕa 003liplabiowajatsebiá-ɕa 004toothdientexuatsá-ɕe 005nosenariztsxá-ɕe 006eyeojobɕnɨ-bé 007earorejamatskuá-ɕe 008headcabezabestɕá-ɕe, betɕá-ɕe 009foreheadfrentexuentsɨɕá-ɕe 010haircabellostxɨnɨ́-xa 011chinmentónkumbambɨ́-ɕa 012beardbarbawangɨtsboboʃɨ́-xua 013neckcuellotamoɕá-xa 014chestpechokotʃá-xa 015woman’s breastteta, seno, pechostʃótʃo 016abdomenvientre, abdomenwabsbiá 017backespaldastɨtɕá-xa 018shoulderhombrotantɕá-xa 019armbrazobuakuá-tɕe 021elbowcodoʃɨmia-bé 022handmanokukuá-tɕe 023fingerdedo de la manontɕabuá-bxa 024fingernailunangétsebia-ɕe 025legpiernamɨntxá-xa 027kneerodillantsamiá-ɕe 028shinespinillaɕɨbxá-xa 029footpieʃekuá-tɕe 030toededo del piexɨntɕá-bxa 031skinpielbobátʃe 032bonehuesobetá-ɕe, betá-bxa 033bloodsangrebuíɲe 034heartcorazónainána 035lungspulmonesbéxnatse 036penispenelótɕe 037vulvavulvasalápo 038manhombreentɕá (jentɕá) 039malevarónbojabása 040womanmujerʃembása 041peoplegenteentɕánga 042husbandmarido, esposobojá 043wifemarida, esposaʃéma 044fatherpadretaitá, bébta 045mothermadremamá, bebmá, máma 046baby, infantcriaturaɕeɕóna, (ɕoɕóna) 047old manviejobɨtsanań 048wateraguabújeʃe, béxa-je 049riverríobéxa-ke, bʃáxa-je 051lakelagowabxaxóna-je 052swamppantanoxatɨʃáɲe 053spring of waterfuente, ojo de aguaobaxtʃkaníɲe 054waterfallcaída de aguabuatʃkɨkxaníɲe 055rapidscatarata, raudalbʃawenaníɲe 056flame, firecandela, fuegoíɲe, níɲe 057ashcenizaxatinjá 058charcoalcarbónenaxomá-ɕe 059smokehumongóna 060firewoodleñaniɲá 061skycíelosel-ókaSpanish loanword 062rainlluviawabténa 063windvientobínjia 064sunsolʃínje 065moonlunaxuaʃkóna 066starestrellaestrelja-témaSpanish loanword 067daydíabɨnɨ-té, té 068nightnocheibéta 069thundertruenowaxuesajá 070lightningrelámpagotkuínje 071rainbowarco iristsɨbkuákuatxo 072earth, soiltierrabʃántse 073stonepiedrandɨtɕ-bé 074sandarenakaskáxoSpanish loanword 075housecasajébna 076rooftechothɨxnaɲe, bonxanána 077doorpuertabɨɕá-ɕe 078seat, stoolbancotɕenɨ́-ɕe 079matesteratxuá-ʃe 080hammockhamacauxonjanɨ́-ʃa 081bedcatre, cama de barbacoaxutsnɨ́-ʃa 082cooking potollamatbá-xa 083cultivated clearingroza, sementeraxaxáɲe 084villagecaseríopueblo-témaSpanish loanword 085path, trailcamino, sendero, trochabenátʃe 086fish netredataʒajɨ́-ʃaSpanish loanword 087fish hookanzueloansuelɨ-bxuáSpanish loanword 088axehachatatɕníaSpanish loanword 089knifecuchillokutʃiljɨ-bxaSpanish loanword 090canoecanoakanoú-ɕe 091paddleremoʒem-béSpanish loanword 092clubporra, macanangarot-béSpanish loanword 093spearlanzalantsɨ́-ʃaSpanish loanword 094bowarco de cazararkú-bxaSpanish loanword 095arrowflechapletʃɨ-bxuáSpanish loanword 096blowguncerbatana. xuesanɨ-ɕa 097tapirdantabɨtsijá 098jaguartigretígreSpanish loanword 099pumaleón, pumaleónSpanish loanword 100armadilloarmadilloarmadiljo-bé 101dogperrokéɕe 102deervenadobiángana, móngoxo 103batmurciélagotʃimbiláko 104otternutriasalado-bé 105cebus monkey (Cebus capucinus)capuchin, machínkomendéroSpanish loanword 110spotted cavypaca, guaguamɨmaɕe 113tortoisetortugatortúga-ɕeSpanish loanword 115collared peccarysaínosaín kótɕeSpanish loanword 117agoutiagutíentsóje-ɕe 118ratrataʒáta-tɕeSpanish loanword 119catgatomeséto 120mouseratónʃiéna 121tailcolawaskuatɕi-xuá 122snakeserpiente, culebramɨtɕkuáje 123anaconda, water boamapanaamarón 126toadsaposápoSpanish loanword 127birdpájaroʃlóbtɕe 128hummingbirdpicaflor, colibríngɨntsiána 130toucantucánpikúdo 131parrotloroʃatúo, ʃatú 133buzzardgallinazongaljinásoSpanish loanword 134curassowpavotʃúmbo 135owllechuza, buhokoskúngo 136guanpava de montekukuána 137hengallinatuámba 138fishpescadobeóna 140beeabejatxowána 141flymoscaʃatsɨbiána 142fleapulganzantsána 143lousepiojomɨtsána 144mosquitozancudoʃɨngna-bxa 146anthormigaxuána 147spideraranabáxna, batʃná-ɕe 148jigger fleanigua, piguetsɨtxóna 149bush, junglemontetxá-ɲe 150open grasslandpajonal, sabanaxatʃáɲe 151hillcerro, lomabatsxáɲe 152treeárbolbetíje, betijé-ʃe 153leafhojatsbuaná-tʃe 154tree leafhoja de árboltsbuaná-tʃe 155flowerflorwantɕebxú-ʃa 156fruitfrutaʃaxuan-bé 158rootraíztbɨtɨ́-xa 159seedsemillaxénaje 160stickpaloniɲɨ́-ɕe 161grasshierbaʃákuana 162corn, maizemaízmátse 163maniocyucabʃendɨ́-ɕe 165tobaccotabacotbákoSpanish loanword 166cottonalgodóntongéntse-ʃe 167gourdcalabazo porotaus-bé 168yamñametʃaná 169sweet potatocamotemijá 170achioteachiote, bijamandorɨ́-ʃa 171chili pepperajítsɨtɕá 173Banisterium, hallucinogenic vineayahuasca, jajébiaxíje 174plantainplátanoblandɨ́-tɕaSpanish loanword 178canecaña bravaɕɨ́-ɕe 179saltsaltamó 180chichachicha, masatobóko-ye 181oneunokánje 182twodosúta 183threetresúnga 184fourcuatrokánta 185fivecincoʃátʃna 190tendiezbnɨ́tsan 191firstprimeronatsána 192lastúltimoústonoje 193rattlesonajero, maracamarakɨ́-ʃeSpanish loanword 194drumtamborɕɨnxana-bé 195cushmacushmaʃabuanguanɨ-xuá 196ear ornamentorejera, aretewamatsaxonjanɨ́-ʃa 197maskmáscaraxobɨ́tsanɨ-ɕe 198healer, shamancuranderotatɕmbuá, jobá 199chiefcacique, curaca, capitánutabná, mandádoSpanish loanword 200I, me, myyo, mí ustedátɕe 201you (singular)ustedáka 202heéltʃá 203sheellatʃá 204we inclusivenosotros inclusivobɨ́nga 206you pluralustedestɕingabtánga 207theyellostʃɨ́nga 208my handmi manoátɕ-be kukuá-tɕe 209your (sg.) handtu manoák-be kukuá-tɕe 210his handsu manotʃá-be kukuá-tɕe 211our handsnuestras manosbɨng-be kukuá-tɕe 213their handssus manos (de ellos)tʃɨ́ng-be kukuátɕe 214my bowmi arcoátɕ-be arkú-bxaSpanish loanword 215your bowtu arcoák-be arkú-bxa 216his bowsu arco (de él)tsá-be arkú-bxa 217our bownuestro arcobɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa 219their bowsu arco (de ellos)tʃɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa 220biggrandebɨ́ts 221small, littlepequeñobáse, bíntʃe 222coldfríoʃék-bana 223hotcaliententɕníɲe 224goodbuenotɕábe, tɕabá 225badmalobaká, bákna sóje 226whiteblancobxántse 227blacknegrobtsénga 228go!vaya, ve!m-ó-tsa 229come!ven!m-á-bo 230eat!come!m-ó-se 231drink!bebe!m-o-bɕé 232sleep!duerme!m-o-tsámana 233crown of headcoronatʃinʃ-óka 234front teeth, incisorsdientes delanteros incisivosbtɨɕá-ɕe 236long hairpelo largobɨ́n stxɨná-ʃe 237the neck regiongarganta y cuellobexɨ́ngua-xa 238Adam’s applenuez de la gargantatamoɕtxon-bé 239upper backespalda, parte superiorstɨtɕá-xa 241wristmuñecaʃɨmia-bé 242lower legpierna inferiorɕɨbxá-tɕe 243body hairel pelo del cuerpobobo-ʃɨ́-xa 244stomachestómagowabsbiá 245intestinesintestinostʃuntʃuljɨ-xua-ngá 246old womanviejitawela-xéma 247clouds at restnubes quietasxantɕetɨ́-ʃe 249cultivated clearingroza, sementera de maíztaɕxá-ɲe 250streamquebradabáse béxa-je 251pebblespiedrecillasndɨtɕmé-ʃe 252huge rocksrocas grandespeɲí-ɕeSpanish loanword 253path, trailcamino, sendero, trochaaxʃatʃnɨxní-ɲe 255shelterranchotambo-téma 256thisestekém 257thateso, ese, aqueltʃɨ́ 258whoquiénndá, ndmuá 259whatquendajá 260notnondóɲe 261alltodosnjćtska 262manymuchosbɨtská, bá, bá-nga 263longlargobɨ́n 264barkcortezaxubobá-ʃe 265fleshcarnemɨntɕéna 267grease, animal fatgrasaminjikáSpanish loanword 268egghuevoʃɨmnɨ-bé 269horncuernotsɨtxoní-ɕe 270featherplumaplumɨ-bxuáSpanish loanword 271elaw, nailuña, garrangétsebia-ɕe 272bellybarrigawabsbiá 273liverhígadobekotʃká 274drinkbeberxatmuána, xobɕiána 275eatcomerxasána 276bitemorderxaxantsána 277seeverxinjána 278hearoirxowenána 279knowsaberxtsetatɕmbuána 280sleepdormirxómanana 281diemorirxóbanana 282killmatarxóbana 283swim (not bathe)nadarxatʃbabána 284flyvolarxongébxuana 285walkandarxtsanána 286comevenirxabána 287lie downacostarsextsexáxonana 288sit downsentarsexotbemána 289standponerse en pie, de piexotsajána 290givedarxatɕetajána 291saydecirxajanána 292burnquemar, arderxtsejiɲána 293mountainmontañaxáɲe 294redrojobuángana 295greenverdengɨ́bʃna 296yellowamarillotsɨɕijána 297fullllenoxútxena 298newnuevotsɨ́m 299roundredondo-bé 300drysecoboxóxo, buaʃána 301namenombrewabáina 302howcómontɕámo 303whencuándontséko, ntséko ora 304wheredondendm-óka, ndaj-éntɕe 305hereaquímu-éntɕe 306thereallítʃ-éntɕe 307otherotroínje, injá 308fewpocobatɕá, básebta 309fogneblinaxantɕetɨ́-ʃe 310flowfluirxtsobuána 311seamarmár béxa-je 312wetmojadobtʃékuana 313washlavarxáxabiana 314wormgusanotsɨkɨmiána 315wingalaxuatɨngmiá-ʃa 316furpiel peludabobo-ʃá, bobó-ʃe 317navelombligowamɨʃtɨtɨ́-ɕa 318salivasalivajebuá-je 319milklechelétɕi-jeSpanish loanword 320withcon-ka, -btaka 321inen-óka, -íɲe, -éntɕe 322aten, lugar definido-óka 323ifsi-se, -sna 324icehielojéloSpanish loanword 326freezehelarsextseʃekbána 327childniñobáse-tema 328darkoscuroibéta 329cutcortarkutʃú-j 330wideanchotɨntɕá 331narrowestrecho, angostobáse tɨntɕá 332farlejosbɨn-óka 333nearcercabéko-ɲe 334thickgruesoxoʃá 335thindelgadobáse xoʃá 336shortcortobéko 337heavypesadoteʃut-, úta 338dullembotadondɨ-ngmɨtʃɨ́-bxa 339sharpafiladobɕá-xa, ngmitʃɨ́-bxa 340dirtysuciotsénga, tsengá 341rottenpodridoxanguána 342smoothlisobɨngɨnjána 343straightrectonderítʃe 344correctcorrectotɕabá 345leftizquierdowaɲikuaj-ói-ka 346rightderechokatʃbi-ói-ka 347oldviejotángua 348rubfrotarxanɨtxuána 349pulljalar, arrastrarxuasxanána 350pushempujarxatsɨntɕána 351throwbotar, tirarxutɕenána 352hitgolpearxuénanana 353splithenderxaʃtɨtɕána 354piercepunzar, chuzarxangɨsɨtxuána 355digcavarxaxutxuána 356tieatarxabátsikana 357sewcoserxuaxonajána 358fallcaerxotsatɕána 359swellhincharxabʃatʃána 360thinkpensarxenóxuabojana 361singcantarxabérsianaSpanish loanword 362smellolerxongɨtsetɕiána 363vomitvomitarxáʃkonana 364suckchuparxobkuakuajána 365blowsoplarxangowána 366feartemerxtsawatxána 367tighten, squeezeapretar, exprimirxatɨbána 368holdsostenerxotbajána 369downabajotsɨtx-óka 370uparribatsbanán-oka 371ripemadurobótʃena 372dustpolvopolbɨ́-ʃeSpanish loanword 373alivevivoainá 374ropecuerdabiá-xa 375yearañowáta

Notes

Bibliography

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• Fabre, Alain (2001). (PDF). Linguistic Perspectives on Endangered Languages. Helsinki. Archived from (PDF) on 2019-03-31.
• Fabre, Alain (2020-06-20) [2005]. (PDF). Electronic. OCLC. Archived from (PDF) on 2023-10-07.
• Howard, Linda (1972). (PDF). Sistemas fonológicos de idiomas colombianos (in Spanish). Vol.I. pp.77–92. Archived from (PDF) on 2023-12-29.
• Huber, Randall Q.; Reed, Robert B. (1992). [Comparative vocabulary: Selected words in indigenous languages of Colombia] (PDF). Bogotá: Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN958-21-0037-0. Archived from on 2023-10-14.
• Jolkesky, Marcelo Pinho de Valhery (2016). (Ph.D. dissertation) (2ed.). Brasília: University of Brasília.
• Kaufman, Terrence (1990). "Language History in South America: What We Know and How to Know More". In Payne, D. L. (ed.). . Austin: University of Texas Press. pp.13–67. ISBN0-292-70414-3.
• Kaufman, Terrence (1994). "The Native Languages of South America". In Mosley, C.; Asher, R. E. (eds.). Atlas of the World's Languages. London: Routledge. pp.46–76.
• McDowell, John Holmes (1994). . Native American Studies. Vol.6. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN9780813160368. OL. (Contains mythic and legendary in Camsá with interlinear morphemic glossing and English translations.)
• Mason, John Alden (1950). "The languages of South America". In Steward, Julian (ed.). . Vol.6. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. pp.157–317.
• O'Brien, Colleen Alena (2018). (PDF) (phd thesis). University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. hdl:.