Classification of Tupi-Guarani

Abstract

Classification of Tupí-GuaraníNorman McQuown has recently published a synthesis of J. Alden Mason's classification of South American languages.1 Although everyone will acknowledge the importance of the systematic work of both Mason and McQuown, one cannot help feeling that Taylor's criticism concerning the West Indies, 'the present classification... complicates and obscures the perspective unnecessarily' 2 , can be applied in part also to South America.I am presently concerned with Tupí-Guaraní, for which this opinion is particularly valid.I do not consider the Macro-Tupí-Guaraní phylum which, as put forth 'very tentatively' by Mason and accepted by McQuown, includes 'Huitotoan' and 'Zaparoan', because I have not as yet found any linguistic evidence for such a phylum.I limit my comments to Tupí-Guaraní proper.In this group, McQuown's paper reproduces exactly Mason's tabulation, without any critical revision, but including mistakes as well as misprints (cf.for example the inclusion of Torá and the classification of Camaiurá as 'Tapajoz Tupian').It seems to me that McQuown, in trying to present 'the full list of Latin American indigenous languages', has erred in giving the status of 'language' to many local group names.Thus, eighteen ''languages'', fourteen of which are presented as 'relatively important' (they are distinguished by numbers on the map), are listed as Coastal Tupian: Tupina (= Tupiguae), Aricobe, Amoipira, Apigapigtanga, Araboiara, Caete, Guaracaio (= Itati), Muriapigtanga, Potiguara (= Pitonara), Rariguara, Tamoio, Timimino (= Temimino), Tobajara 1. Norman McQuown, The indigenous languages of Latin America, AA 57.501-570 (1955); J. Alden Mason, The languages of South American Indians, Handbook of South American Indians, 6.157-317 (Washington 1950).2. Douglas Taylor, Languages and ghost-languages of the West Indies, IJAL 22. 180-183 (1956), p. 180.

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