Timote language

Timote, also known as Cuica or Timote–Cuica, is the language of the Timote–Cuica state in the Venezuelan Andes, around the present city of Mérida and south of Lake Maracaibo.

Timote
Cuica
Migurí
Native to	Venezuela
Region	Mutús
Native speakers	(perhaps 200 cited 1977)
Language family	Timotean Timote
Dialects	Timote Cuica ?Mutú (Loco)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	([MUF] retired in Ethnologue 15)
Linguist List	qpj Timote-Cuica
	qdu Maguri
Glottolog	timo1237  Timote-Cuica

The language is reported to have gone extinct in the early to mid 20th century. However, in 1977 it was reported that the indigenous village of Mutús, in the heart of the old Timote state, still spoke an indigenous language, which would presumably be Timote. The name is apparently Timote, as 'Timote' itself derives from ti-motɨ 'Mutú speakers', and mutú or mukú is a common toponym in the region. This lead had not been followed up as of Adelaar (2004).

Dialects

The Timote and Cuica peoples apparently spoke dialects of a single language; some of the last reports of Cuica claim it was nothing other than Timote. Data is limited, but the connection is clear in the numerals:

Gloss	Timote	Cuica
1	karí
2	xem, xen
3	šut, sut, hisxut	šuent
4	pit	pití
5	kabó, kabok	kamó
6	kasum, kaksúm, kapsún	katseunt
7	mai-xem, mai-xén	ma-en
8	mai-xut, mai-sxut	mabi-šuent
9	mai-pit	mabi-pita
10	tabís

Consonant clusters, somewhat unusual for the area, are found, especially in Cuica: kču 'bird', stots 'blood', Timote klef 'rainy season', hutn 'dog'.

Mason (1950)

Mason (1950) provides a lengthy internal classification of Cuica and Timote:^[1]

Timóte (Timoti) 1. Timóte proper Mukurujún Mukusé Mokoyupu Mukuarsé Ciribuy Miyoy Mukumbá Kindorá Tafallé Mukumbají Chino 2. Mocochí (Mokochi) Miyuse Tukaní Mokochi (Torondoy) 3. Mukutu (Escaguey) Eskaguey Kanaguá Kinó Mokoino (Mokino) Mombun Yarikagua Arikagua Mukutuy Mukupatí Mukuchachi Trikagua Mokoto (Mukutu, Mukutí) Guarake Bailadores 4. Tapano Aviamo Mokombó (Mokobo) Tapano

5. Chama (Miguri ?) Mokunche (Mukunche, Mukuneche) Mukurubá (Mokuruguá) Tabay (Mukunutáne, Tabayon ?) Mukurumagua Guake (Guakí) Mukumba Chichuy Mukuñoke (Mukuño, Migurí ?) Mukurufuén Muká Mukumpí Mukutirí Mukusnandá Mukaikuy Mukusó, etc. Mukurandá Mukuhúun (Mukupine, Mokoion) Chiguará Insnumbí (Insumbi) Estankes Mukuchi (Makuchi, Mokochiz) Misantá Mokao Mosnachó Misikea, etc. Eskagüey Mukujún Tatuy (Tatey ?) Mukaria Mukaketá Mukusirí Kaparú Jají (Mukundú) Mukubache (Mirripú, Mirripuy, Maripú ?) Mukúun (Mukumpú, Lagunillas) Kasés Mukuinamo Arikagua Tibikuay Makulare Mukusumpú Barbudos Jamuén, etc. Kinaró Tiguiñó Guaruní (Guarurí)

Cuica (Kuika) 1. Cuica proper 2. Tostó Tostó proper Tiranjá Tomoní 3. Eskuke (Eskukey) Eskuke proper Bombá Moka Tirandá Chobú Chachike Chachu Tirandá proper Estiguate (Estiguati) 4. Jajó (Jakón, Jajón) Jajó proper Esnijaque Kikoke (Kikoki) Mapen (La Vega) Duri Mikimboy Unclassified tribes Kirorá Mijure Montun Iguino