Proto-Mixe–Zoquean language

Proto-Mixe–Zoquean
Proto-Mixe–Zoque
(partial reconstruction)
Reconstruction ofMixe–Zoquean languages
Eraca. 2000–1200 BCE

Proto-Mixe–Zoquean or Proto-Mixe–Zoque is a language that language scholars and Mesoamerican historians believe was spoken on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec during the Initial Formative Period (c. 2000–1200 BCE).[1] Wichmann (1995) has reconstructed nearly 600 Proto-Mixe–Zoquean lexical items.[2]

Ethnic marker

Olmec influence on neighboring groups and cultures and those who followed them suggest that they shared a similar language, or were rooted in a similar language.[3] In later Mesoamerican languages, evidence of loan words suggests that the Olmecs influenced both material culture and the language. Many words borrowed by these early civilizations indicate a shared vocabulary of Mesoamerican cultigens (beans, squash, tomatoes, and maize) and food preparation.[4] Mesoamerican speakers had a sophisticated culture for their time.

Phonology

A vowel could be short or long, and the nucleus of a syllable could be a short or long vowel or followed by /ʔ/ or /h/.[5]

Mixe–Zoque language

Archaeologists call this culture Mokaya, which means 'people of the corn' in the contemporary Mixe–Zoque languages.[6] Archaeological evidence indicates that the Mixe–Zoque language was spoken across the isthmus, therefore sharing its roots in this Olmec language tradition, and a common ancestor, the proto-Mixe–Zoque.[7]

See also

References

Wiktionary has a list of reconstructed forms at Appendix:Proto-Mixe-Zoquean reconstructions
  1. ^ Campbell, Lyle; Kaufman, Terrence (1976). "A Linguistic Look at the Olmecs". American Antiquity. 41 (1): 80–89. doi:10.2307/279044. JSTOR 279044. S2CID 162230234.
  2. ^ Wichmann, Søren (1995). The Relationship Among the Mixe–Zoquean Languages of Mexico. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. ISBN 978-0-87480-487-4.
  3. ^ Campbell, Lyle; Kaufman, Terrence (1976). "A Linguistic Look at the Olmecs". American Antiquity 41 (1): 80-89.
  4. ^ Evans, Susan Toby 2008 Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History, second edition. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
  5. ^ Elson, Benjamin F. (1992). "Reconstructing Mixe-Zoque". Summer Institute of Linguistics (107): 577–592.
  6. ^ Evans, Susan Toby 2008 Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History, second edition. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
  7. ^ Evans, Susan Toby 2008 Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History, second edition. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
  • Evans, Susan Toby (2008). Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History (2nd ed.). London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-28440-7.