Sechura–Catacao languages

Sechura–Catacao is a proposed connection between the small Catacaoan language family of Peru and the language isolate Sechura (Sek). The languages are extremely poorly known, but Kaufman (1990) finds the connection convincing, Campbell (2012) persuasive.^[2]

Sechura–Catacao
(proposed)
Geographic distribution	Peru
Linguistic classification	Proposed language family
Subdivisions	Catacaoan Sechura (or Sek) ? Leco[1]
Language codes
Glottolog	(not evaluated)
Distribution of Sechura and Catacaoan in the Piura region.

External relationships

Kaufman (1994: 64) groups Leco and Sechura–Catacao together as part of a proposed Macro-Lecoan family.^[1]

Tovar (1961),^[3] partly based on Schmidt (1926),^[4] classifies Sechura–Catacao together with the Chimuan languages in his Yunga–Puruhá family.

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.^[5]

gloss	Sechura	Catacao	Colan
man	rekla	aszat	yatadlam
water	xoto	yup	yúp
fire	morot	guanararak	hayur
sun	yóro	nap	turi nap
moon	ñangru	nam	nag
bird	yaibab	yeya	yaiau
fish	xuma	l'as	l'as
head	te-uma
foot	lava

Comparative word list of Sechura, Colan, and Catacao from Loukotka (1949):^[6]

Notes

• (Sp.) = Spanish loanword (excluded)

Sources used by Loukotka (1949)

• Sechura: Buchwald (1919)^[7]
• Manuscript by Martínez Compañón from the 1700s

French gloss (original)	English gloss (translated)	Sechura	Kolan	Katakao
animal	animal	animblà	(Sp.)	(Sp.)
arbre	tree	nusuču	(Sp.)	čiguasam
boire	drink	tutuk	kum	konekuk
ciel	sky	kučuk yor	kutuk nap	(Sp.)
cœur	heart	čusiupunma	ñessinim	ñiesiñičim
corps	body	kuerpokči	(Sp.)	(Sp.)
douleur	pain	punuk	masik	masik
eau	water	tutú	yup	yup
étoiles	stars	čúpčúp	čupučup	(Sp.)
femme	woman	kuktum	pim	pičim
feu	fire	morot	huyur	guanararak
fille	daughter	ñosñi	hikum	ykučim kapuk
fils	son	ñosñi	hikum	ykučim
fleur	flower	florak	(Sp.)	alhuaka
fleuve	river	tuxut	yup	turuyup
frère	brother	sikanñi	puam	puačim
fruit	fruit	(Sp.)	(Sp.)	(Sp.)
gai	happy	otmuk	čagasiñ	(Sp.)
herbe	grass	unñiókól	aguakol	taguakol
homme	man	sukda	yatadlam	aszat
lune	moon	ñangru	nag	nam
manger	eat	unuk	agua	aguačim
mer	sea	roro	amum	amaum
mère	mother	ñiña	nun	ničim
mort	dead	laktukno	dlakati	ynataklakatu
oiseau	bird	yaibab	yaiau	yeya
ondes	waves	kaph	llamas	(Sp.)
os	bone	ruño	dladlapiram	lalapečen
père	father	xači	mam	(Sp.)
pleurer	cry	nik	ñar	ñarakñakitutin
pluie	rain	purir	nug	guayakinum
poisson	fish	xum	llas	llas
rameau	branch	(Sp.)	yabitiram	yabike
régner	reign	busuk	čañar	čañak
sœur	sister	bapueñi	purum	puručim
soleil	sun	yóro	turinap	nap
terre	earth	lokt	dlurum	durum
tronc	trunk	fukú	tukuram	taksikás
vent	wind	fik	kuiat ñap	vik
viande	meat	kolt	(Sp.)	kkol