Language Stock Proposals
See also: Category:Proposed language familiesMany hypothetical language phylum proposals concerning American languages are often cited as uncontroversially demonstrated in more popular writings. However, many of these proposals have, in fact, not been fully demonstrated if even at all. Some proposals are viewed by specialists in a favorable light, believing that genetic relationships are very likely to be established in the future (for example, the Penutian stock). Other proposals are more controversial with many linguists believing that some genetic relationships of a proposal may be demonstrated but much of it undemonstrated (for example, Hokan–Siouan, which, incidentally, Edward Sapir called his "wastepaper basket stock"). Still other proposals are almost unanimously rejected by specialists (for example, Amerind). Below is a (partial) list of some such proposals:
- Angonkian–Gulf
- Algonquian–Wakashan
- Almosan–Keresiouan
- Amerind
- (macro-)Arawakan
- Arutani–Sape
- Aztec–Tanoan
- Chibchan stock
- Chibchan–Paezan
- Chikitano–Boróroan
- Chimu–Chipaya
- Coahuiltecan
- Cunza–Kapixanan
- Dené–Yeniseian
- Dené–Caucasian
- Esmerelda–Yaruroan
- Ge–Pano–Carib
- Guamo–Chapacuran
- Gulf
- Hokan
- Hokan–Siouan
- Je–Tupi–Carib
- Jivaroan–Cahuapanan
- Kalianan
- Kandoshi–Omurano–Taushiro
- (Macro-)Katembri–Taruma
- Kaweskar language area
- Keresiouan
- Lule–Vilelan
- Macro-Andean
- Macro-Carib
- Macro-Chibchan
- Macro-Gê
- Macro-Jibaro
- Macro-Kulyi–Cholónan
- Macro-Lekoan
- Macro-Mayan
- Macro-Otomákoan
- Macro-Paesan
- Macro-Panoan
- Macro-Puinavean
- Macro-Siouan
- Macro-Tucanoan
- Macro-Tupí–Karibe
- Macro-Waikurúan
- Macro-Warpean
- Mataco–Guaicuru
- Mosan
- Mosetén–Chonan
- Mura–Matanawian
- Sapir's Na–Dené including Haida
- Nostratic–Amerind
- Paezan
- Paezan–Barbacoan
- Penutian
- California Penutian
- Oregon Penutian
- Mexican Penutian
- Puinave–Maku
- Quechumaran
- Saparo–Yawan
- Sechura–Catacao
- Takelman
- Tequiraca–Canichana
- Ticuna–Yuri (Yuri–Ticunan)
- Totozoque
- Tunican
- Yok-Utian
- Yuki–Wappo
Good discussions of past proposals can be found in Campbell (1997) and Campbell & Mithun (1979).
Amerindian linguist Lyle Campbell also assigned different percentage values of probability and confidence for various proposals of macro-families and language relationships, depending on his views of the proposals' strengths. For example, the Germanic language family would receive probability and confidence percentage values of +100% and 100%, respectively. However, if Turkish and Quechua were compared, the probability value might be -95%, while the confidence value might be 95%. 0% probability or confidence would mean complete uncertainty.
| Language Family | Probability | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Macro-Siouan | −20% | 75% |
| Aztec–Tanoan | 0% | 50% |
| Quechumaran | +50% | 50% |
| Eskimo–Aleut, Chukotan |
−25% | 20% |
| Na–Dene | 0% | 25% |
| Tlingit–Eyak–Athabaskan | +75% | 40% |
| Mosan | −60% | 65% |
| Wakashan and Chimakuan | 0% | 25% |
| Almosan (and beyond) | −75% | 50% |
| Hokan–Subtiaba | −90% | 75% |
| Coahuiltecan | −85% | 80% |
| Guaicurian–Hokan | 0% | 10% |
| Quechua as Hokan | −85% | 80% |
| Tunican | 0% | 20% |
| Natchez–Muskogean | +40% | 20% |
| Atakapa–Chitimacha | −50% | 60% |
| Gulf | −25% | 40% |
| Algonkian–Gulf | −50% | 50% |
| Mexican Penutian | −40% | 60% |
| Sahaptian–Klamath–(Molala) | +75% | 50% |
| Sahaptian–Klamath–Tsimshian | +10% | 10% |
| Takelman | +80% | 60% |
| Zuni–Penutian | −80% | 50% |
| Yukian–Siouan | −60% | 75% |
| Yukian–Gulf | −85% | 70% |
| Keresan and Zuni | −40% | 40% |
| Keresan and Uto-Aztecan | 0% | 60% |
| Macro-Mayan | +30% | 25% |
| Maya–Chipaya | −80% | 95% |
| Maya–Chipaya–Yunga | −90% | 95% |
| Otomanguean–Huave | +25% | 25% |
| Tlapanec–Subtiaba as Otomanguean | +95% | 90% |
| Jicaque–Subtiaba | −60% | 80% |
| Jicaque–Tequistlatecan | +65% | 50% |
| Jicaque–Hokan | −30% | 25% |
| Xinca–Lenca | 0% | 50% |
| Tarascan–Quechua | −90% | 80% |
| Misumalpan–Chibchan | +20% | 50% |
| Nostratic–Amerind | −90% | 75% |
Read more about this topic: Indigenous Languages Of The Americas
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“I suggested to them also the great desirability of a general knowledge on the Island of the English language. They are under an English speaking government and are a part of the territory of an English speaking nation.... While I appreciated the desirability of maintaining their grasp on the Spanish language, the beauty of that language and the richness of its literature, that as a practical matter for them it was quite necessary to have a good comprehension of English.”
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