University of Nevada, Reno Spring 2023
Written for the (Philadelphia) Saturday Evening Post.
TABULAR VIEW
Of the Generic American Languages.
One of the most glaring errors of speculative philosophers on the subject of America, is to be found in their assertion that American languages are multiplied beyond conception, and cannot be reduced to order. This misconception arose from a superficial knowledge of the matter, and a wish to assert extraordinary things. If the same wish had been evinced respecting Europe, they could have found 6O languages in France, and 100 in Italy by considering the varions provincial French and Italian dialects, as so many languages, since many of them cannot be understod by the respective provincials of the same country.
Even Balby, after reducing the 1500 or 1800 supposed American languages to 422, has not attempted to class them, except geographically. I made the attempt ever since 1824, in the Cincinnati Literary Gazette, and have since corrected my classification, reducing the 1500 American dialects to about 25 Generic languages, many of which have yet as much affinity as the Latin and Greek, or English and German.
They are the following; 14 from North and 11 from South America:
1. LANGUAGE OF NORTH AMERICA.
1. USKIH, divided in about 30 dialects, such as Esquimaux, Mcuts, Chugach, Aleutian, Chuchi, &c., spoken all over Boreal America, from Bering Strait and Alaska to Labrador and Greenland.
2. ONGUY, about 50 dialects: Huron Onondago, Seneca, Hochclaga, Tuscarora, Notoway, &c., ex-tending from the pacific ocean to Canada and Carolina.
3. LENAP, nearly 250 dialects: such as Chinuc, Dinneh, Algic, Shawan, Miami, Micmac, Mohe-gan, Nantico, Powhatan, &c., extending from the Columbia river on the Pacific ocean to Hudson bay, New England and Florida.
4. WACASH about 60 dialects: Atnah, Chopunish, Coluch, Chingita, &c., spoken from California to latitude 55 on the North West coast of America.
5. SKERE, above 125 dialects: Panis, Seris, Pakis, Lipan, Shoshoni, Opata, Uchis, Poyay, &c., extending from Slave lake to California, Texas, Florida, and Honduras.
6. NATCHEZ, nearly 75 dialects: Cado, Yatasik, Wocon, Cuza, Cataba, &c., extending from Sinaloa in the west to Carolina in the east.
7. CAPAHA, about 50 dialects. Washasha, Yatani, Oto, Ochagra, Dacota, &c., extending from the head of Missouri river to the Wabash and Arkansas rivers.
8. CHACTAH, about 40 dialects: Chicasa, Yazu, Coroa, Humah, Moskolgih, &c , extending from Texas to Florida.
9. OTALY, about 25 dialects: Tsuluki or Cherokees, Tallegha, Talahuicas, &c., extending from the Allegheny mountains to the mountains of Mexico.
10. ATALAN, about 25 dialects: Tala or Tarasca, Matalan, Tulan, Tecas, Tolban, Colima, Tara-humara, &c., extending from New Mexico Michuacan, and Nicaragua.
11. OTOMI; about 20 dialects: Mico, Dotami, Mazabuy, &c., extending from Arkansas to Mexico.
12. AZTEC, about 20 dialects: Tolteca, Olmeca, Cora, Pipil, &c., extending from Mexico to Nicaragua.
13. MAYA, about 40 dialects: Huasteca, Poconchi, Quiche, &c.,extending from Texas to Yuca-tan and Gautemala.
14. CHONTAL, about 60 dialects : Tzendal, Choles, Locas, Lencas, Zoques, Quelen, Chiapan, extending from Chiapa to Panama.
2. LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA.
15: ARUAC, having nearly 100 dialects: such as Haytian, Cuban, Yucayan, Eycri, Cairi, Arara, Cumana, Cairi, Orayas, Aragoas, &c., extending from the islands of Bahama and Cuba to Coro, Cumana, Gayana and Brazil.
16. CALINA, about 122 dialects: Carib, Galibi, Yaoy, Tamanac, Guarivas, Gotos, Chaymas, Guatacas. &c., spread from the Carib islands to Darien, Oronoco, Guyana and Brazil.
17. PURIS, about 90 dialects: Maypuris, Achaguas, Coropos, Camacan, Parexis, Parias, &c., extending from Paria, and the Oronoco to Brazil and Paraguay.
18. YARURA, about 29 dialects: Betoy, Ayrico, Ele, Yaros, Charua, &c., spread from the river Oronoco to the river Parana.
19. CUNA, about 25 dialects: such as Uraba, Darien, Cunacuna, Choco, Cocinas, &c., spread from Panama to Coro and Popayan.
20. MAYNA, about 60 dialects- Yameos, Amaono, Manoa, Cauchas, Panos, Managua, Solimos, Aguanos, &c., spread from Popayan and Quito, to the Maranon and Parana.
21. MACA, about 100 dialects: Muhigca, Yuncas' Zamuca, Pancha, Moxos, Otomacas, Tao, Pinoco, Chaco, &c., spreading throughout South America from Cundinamarca to Peru and Brazil.
22. GUARANI, nearly 300 dialects: Tupi, Omagua, Cocama, Guayona, Payagua, &c., spread throughout Brazil, and from the Andes to the Atlantic sea, as far South as Buenos Ayres.
23. MARAN, about 50 dialects: Quichua, Aymaru, Muras, Marahas, Andoa, Moratas, Zapibo, Cuyaba, '&c., spread from Peru in the west to Brazil in the east, on both sides the equator. 24. LULE, about 25 dialects: Vilela, Mocobi, Abipon, Atalalas, &c., spread through Chaeo, Tucuman and Paraguay.
25. CHILI, about 20 dialects: Puelche,Chonos, Araucan, Tehuelet, Yacanac, Kemenet, &c., spread all over Austral America from Chili to Magelania and Fuego islands.
Even the 25 languages may perhaps be reduced to 18 by more accurate investigation; thus the 4th and the 5th may become united, as well as 6 and 8, 7 and 11, 9 and 10, as they have consideable analogies. The same may happen in South America with 15, 16 and 19, also with 17. 18 and 20, which approximate by gradual dialects.
C. S. RAFINESQUE. July 4,1829.
Southern Galaxy 13 Aug 1829, Thu • Page 3
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Constantine Samuel Rafinesque--
Rafinesque's years at Transylvania, 1819-26, though often troubled by quarrels with colleagues, were among his most productive. He published scientific names, both locally and in Europe, for thousands of plants and hundreds of animals. He became interested also in prehistoric Indian sites—identifying 148 of them in Kentucky alone... At Transylvania he taught botany through the innovation of examining physical specimens and he tried, unsuccessfully, to found a botanical garden in conjunction with the university. When he returned to Philadelphia in the spring of 1826, he shipped ahead forty crates of specimens, which were the basis of his studies for the rest of his life.
CONSTANTINE SAMUEL RAFINESQUE (evansville.edu)
James L'Angelle English Undergraduate Dept.
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