Lule–Vilela languages

The two Lule–Vilela languages constitute a small, distantly related language family of northern Argentina. Kaufman found the relationship likely and with general agreement among the major classifiers of South American languages. Viegas Barros published additional evidence from 1996–2006. However, Zamponi (2008) considers Lule and Vilela each as language isolates, with similarities being due to contact.^[1]

Lule–Vilela
Geographic distribution	northern Argentina
Linguistic classification	One of the world's primary language families
Subdivisions	Lule-Tonocote Vilela
Language codes
Glottolog	None

Internal classification

Internal classification of the Lule–Vilela languages by Mason (1950):^[2]

• Lule–Vilela
  • Lule
    • Great Lule (of Miraflores, of Machoni)
    • Small Lule
      • Isistiné
      • Tokistiné
      • Oristiné
  • Vilela
    • Atalalá
    • Chunupí (Sinipé, Chulupí)
      • Yooc (Yoo, Wamalca)
      • Ocolé
      • Yecoanita
    • Pasain (Pazaine)
    • Omoampa (Umuapa)
    • Vacaa
    • Vilela
    • Ipa
    • Takete
    • Yoconoampa (Yecunampa)
    • Wamalca
    • (Malbalá ?)

Unclassfied languages are Tonocoté, Matará, and Guacará.^[2]

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for Lule, Vilela, and Chunupí.^[3]

gloss	Lule	Vilela	Chunupí
one	alapea
two	tamop
three	tamlip
head	tokó	niskún	niskan
tooth	l'ú	lupé
water	to	má	maá
fire	ikue	nié	nié
sun	ini	oló	oló
moon		kopi	kokpi
star		tókxo
tree	é
maize	pilis
fish	peás
dog		huan-okol
jaguar		ikém	ikempé
black		kirimit

Proto-language

For reconstructions of Proto-Lule-Vilela by Viegas Barros (2006),^[4] see the corresponding Spanish article.