Chonan languages

Not to be confused with Chono language.

"Chon" redirects here. For other uses, see Chon (disambiguation).

The Chonan languages are a family of indigenous American languages which were spoken in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. Two Chon languages are well attested: Selkʼnam (or Ona), spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory in the northeast of Tierra del Fuego; and Tehuelche spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory north of Tierra del Fuego. The name of the family is from čonn, the Selkʼnam word for 'man'.^[1]

Chonan
Patagonian
Geographic distribution	Patagonia
Extinct	2019, with the death of Dora Manchado (Tehuelche) 1 fluent L2 speaker (2014, Selkʼnam)
Linguistic classification	Mosetén–Chonan ? Chonan
Subdivisions	Chon † ?Puelche-Het †
Language codes
Glottolog	chon1288
Het, Gününa Yajich (Puelche), and Chon proper.

The classification of Chonan languages, according to Roberto Lehmann-Nitsche

Previous studies

The Selkʼnam people were widely studied by anthropologists such as Martin Gusinde and Anne Chapman throughout the 20th century. However, their language went extinct in the 1970s.

Classification

The Haush spoke a language similar to Ona. Some scholars also add to the family the Teushen language — once spoken by the Teushen, located between the Tehuelche and Puelche —though it is poorly attested.

Viegas Barros (2005) attempts to demonstrate that Puelche to the north is related to the Chon languages and would constitute one branch of an extended Chonan family. This proposal has been picked up by Lyle Campbell.^[2] Based on the scanty evidence that is available, the Het peoples (or at least the Didiuhet [Querandí]) might be speakers of languages within the proposed Puelche branch.

If this is correct, the Chon family would be as follows:

Chonan	Chon proper Island Selkʼnam (Ona) Haush (Manekʼenk) Continental Tehuelche Teushen Puelche–Het Puelche (Gününa Küne) ? Het (Didiuhet and Chechehet; Taluhet is unattested)

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Patagon (Chonan) languages.^[3] Additional words are also provided.^[4][5][6][7]

gloss	Patagon (Chonan) languages					Gennaken (Gününa Küne)	Chechehet (Het)
	Selkʼnam	Mánekenkn	Téuesh	Péeneken	Áoniken		Chechehet	Querandí
one	shórsh	setaul	xáuken	háuke	chochä	chéye
two	shóki	aim	xaukáya	xoxieg	xánkä	päch	chivil
ear	shün	shunó	shán	shaʔa	shán	chütsk
tooth	orx	ánktn	korr	urr	hor	xaye
hand	chen	shakut	chan	kʔchen	chen	yapal
foot	yul	halié	kel	kel	kel	yapgit
sun	kren	anián	sheuen	sheuen	sheuen	apiúkük
moon	kre	anim	teruch	kenginkon	kängünkon	apioxok		zobá
dog	uéshn	ishna	xelxénoe	shamehuen	xälänuü	dáshü
earth	harwn		geut, geute		tēm	atek	chu
bow	hàʔ					yakak		afia
great							hati