Zoogocho Zapotec

Zoogocho Zapotec, or Diža'xon,[2] is a Zapotec language of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Zoogocho Zapotec
(San Bartolomé Zoogocho)
Diža'xon
Pronunciation[diʒaʔˈʐon]
Native toMexico
RegionNorthern Oaxaca
Native speakers
(1,400 cited ca. 1991)[1]
(1,000 in Mexico)[1]
Oto-Manguean
Dialects
  • Zoogocho
  • Yalina
  • Tabehua
Language codes
ISO 639-3zpq
Glottologzoog1238

It is spoken in San Bartolomé Zoogocho, Oaxaca, Santa María Yalina, Tabehua, and Oaxaca City.[1]

As of 2013, about 1,500 "Zoogochenses" live in Los Angeles, California. Classes are held in the MacArthur Park neighborhood to preserve the Zoogocho Zapotec language.[3]

The language is also known as Tabehua, Yalina, Zapoteco de San Bartolomé Zoogocho, and Zoogocho.[4]

Phonology

Vowels

Front Back
Close i (u)
Mid e o
Open a

There are a total of five vowels in San Bartolomé Zoogocho Zapotec.[5] The /u/ sound is used in loanwords.[5] Phonation types include: VV, VhV, V'. VV stands for double vowels that produce a creaky voice, vowels which include an h in between them produce a breathy sounds such as in the word yáhà, and vowels such as V' are checked vowels. [5]

Tones

Tones include high, mid, low, rising and falling. [5] Lower tonal qualities are seen more commonly in breathy tones, while checked vowels have a higher tone quality. [5] Although it's common for breathy to have a lower tones and checked vowels commonly have higher tones, this is considered a distinct phenomenon and tone can't be predicted based on phonation types. [5]

Example: yáhà 'weapon’

Stress

In Zoogocho Zapotec, stress is most commonly found on the penultimate syllable of a stem. [5] Stress is not found in words that are made of more than one root, in this situation, the stress(accent) will fall on the second root. [5]

Example: Ni'ihe 'nixtamal'; Yeten 'the tortilla

Syllable Structure

(C)CV(V)(C)(C), there are no restrictions on phonation type on the vowels in this type of syllable set up. [5]

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Retroflex Velar Labio-
velar
Uvular Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t k ʔ
voiced b d ɡ
Affricate voiceless
voiced
Fricative voiceless s ʃ ʂ
voiced z ʒ ʐ ʁ
Nasal voiced m n
voiceless
Rhotic (ɾ)
Lateral voiced l
voiceless
Approximant j w

A few sounds also occur in loanwords from Spanish: /f/, /ɾ/, /ɲ/, /x/, /r/, /ɲ/, and /x/. [5]

Morphology

Nominal Morphology

Nominal means to be categorized in a group of nouns and adjectives, the morphology occurs in a noun phrase.  

(1)

x-migw=a’

POSS-friend=1SG

x-migw=a’

POSS-friend=1SG

‘my friend’

(2)

x-kuzh

POSS-pig

lalo

lalo

x-kuzh lalo

POSS-pig lalo

‘Lalo’s pig’

(3)
xtaobe’

x-dao=be’

POSS-corn.tassel=3SG.INF

x-dao=be’

POSS-corn.tassel=3SG.INF

‘his corn tassel’[5]

Possession

Possession is indicated by placing the possessor or possessive pronoun after the item possessed (Inherent possession is the items being possessed) which is marked prenominally with prefix x- , the possessed nominal then is developed by a pronominal clitic or noun phrase. [5]

Pronominal Clitic

Or noun phrase is pronounced like an affix. Clitics play a syntactic role at the phrase level.

Verbal Morphology

No tense in this language. Zoogocho Zapotec relies on 'temporal particles' za, ba, na, gxe, or neghe.

Primary Aspect

Events that are still occurring, occurred, or will occur over a period of time. The continuative aspect of the examples is dx- .

(13)

dx-e-ban-e’

CONT-FREQ-wake=3F

yogo

every

zhaha

day

dx-e-ban-e’ yogo zhaha

CONT-FREQ-wake=3F every day

‘She wakes up every day.’

(14)

bi

what

dx-aog

CONT-eat

zxoana

Juan

bi dx-aog zxoana

what CONT-eat Juan

‘What is Juan eating?’[5]

The completive aspect is usually marked as b-, gw-, gud-, or g-. This aspect reflects the completion of the event occurred.

(18)

b-e-ban=e’

COMP-FREQ-wake=3F

b-e-ban=e’

COMP-FREQ-wake=3F

‘She used to wake up.’

(19)

ga

where

gud-ao=be’

COMP-eat=3SG.INF

yet

tortilla

ga gud-ao=be’ yet

where COMP-eat=3SG.INF tortilla

‘Where did he eat the tortilla?’[5]

The potential aspect refers to an event that has not yet happened or an event that has not been specified. This aspect is marked by gu- or gw-.

(22)

gw-e-ban=e’

POT-FREQ-wake=3F

gw-e-ban=e’

POT-FREQ-wake=3F

‘She will wake up.’

(23)

dx-bez=a’

CONT-hope=1SG

w-aow

POT-eat

bidao

child

yeth

tortilla

dx-bez=a’ w-aow bidao yeth

CONT-hope=1SG POT-eat child tortilla

‘I hope the kid eats the tortilla.’

(24)

bate’

when

y-egh=o’

POT-drink=2S

nis

water

bate’ y-egh=o’ nis

when POT-drink=2S water

‘When are you going to drink water?’[5]

The stative aspect is referred to as the prefix n- or by nothing at all. This aspect has multiple uses, such as, expressing the states and conditions and habitual meaning.

(28)

m-ban=a’

STAT-live=1SG

m-ban=a’

STAT-live=1SG

‘I am alive.’

(29)

kuzh

pig

la

FOC

n-dxe=be’

STAT-carry=3SG.INF

ke?

no

kuzh la n-dxe=be’ ke?

pig FOC STAT-carry=3SG.INF no

‘He’s carrying a pig, right?’

(30)

nake

how

gud-itgh=le

COMP-play=2PL

kate

when

n-ak=le

STAT-be=2PL

bidao=na’

child=DET

nake gud-itgh=le kate n-ak=le bidao=na’

how COMP-play=2PL when STAT-be=2PL child=DET

‘How did you all use to play when you were children?’

(31)

Maria

Maria

n-ak-dx=e’

HAB-be-more=3F

benhe

person

zxen

large

ka

than

xoan

Juan

Maria n-ak-dx=e’ benhe zxen ka xoan

Maria HAB-be-more=3F person large than Juan

‘Maria is larger than Juan.’[5]

Table 4.1 Conjugation in gw-
Conjugation in gw-  
Potential gw-
Completive b-   
Continuative dx-
Stative n-

Orthography

Dillawalhall Zapotec Alphabet

a, b, ch, chh, d, e, f, g, i, j, k, l, ll, lh, m, n, nh, o, p, r, rh, s, sh, t, u, w, x, xh, y, z.[5]

Vowels

Vowels are as follows.[5]

A/a, E/e, I/i, O/o A’/a’, E’/e’, I’/i’, O’/o’ A’A, a’a, E’E, e’e, I’I, i’i O’O/u’u
Ba: Tumba

De: ceniza

Bi: No, negación

Do: mecate (con u para nuevas generaciones)

La’: Oaxaca

Ye’: enfermedad de la piel

Li’: aguijón

Yo’: casa

Za’a: elote

Ze’e: pared

Zi’i: está pesado

Yo’o: vamos

Consonants

Consonants are as follows.[5]

B/b

Beb: ceniza

Bid: chinche

CH/ch

chop: dos

Bach: ya

CHH/chh

Chhak: algo que se está haciendo

Nhachh: entonces

Chho’: tos

D/d

Da: ven

De: ceniza

Déd: lejos

Dé: hay

dud

F/f

Yej fre: floripondio

G/g

Ga: 9

Bgab: escalera

Go: camote

Nhaga’: mi oreja

J/j

Jed: gallina

Bej: pozo

Jia: gallo

Yetj: caña

K/j

Ka’: así

Beko’: perro

Ki: así

Nhake’: es

Nhaka’: soy

L/l

Lao: lazo de penca de maguey

Bel: culebra Bél: pescado

Lí: cierto, verdadero

LL/ll

Lli’: abajo, al sur

Lla: día

Bell: tigre

Yill: cicatriz

LH/lh

Lhao (rhao): tu nombre

Lhillo’ (rhillo’): tu casa

Lhe’ (rhe’): tú

Zilh (zirh): por la mañana

M/m (hay pocas palabras)

Mechho: dinero

Llome (llom): canasta

Dam: tecolote

N/n

Na’: hoy, ahora

Ne’: ten

Bene’: persona

NH/nh

Nhi: aquí

Nhile: nixtamal

Nha’: ahí

Nholhe: mujer

Bnha’: lávate

Benhi’: claridad

P/p (pocas palabras)

Padioxh: saludo

Tap: 4

Pita’: arcoiris

R/r (pocas palabras, se usa

para escribir préstamos del

español)

Rob: arroba

Ros: rosa, arroz

Rós: Rosa

RH/rh (Existen pocas palabras.

Niños y jóvenes actualmente la usan en lugar de LH/lh.

Por lo que lo pueden escribir con esta letra aunque lo pronuncien con RH)

Rhiz: pequeño Rhito: Margarita

S/s

Sib: alto, refiriéndose a casa, pared, árbol.

Se usa también chhá’ (arriba)

Sa’o: pedazos de vidrio

Bes: riega (objetos)

Bsa’: raspa o pon en movimiento algo

Nhis: agua

SH/sh

Shi: 10

Sha’: cazuela

Shod (shud): zopilote

Gash: Amarillo

Bsha’: cambia

T/t

Tap: 4

To: 1

Bat: cuándo

Btao: maíz aposcahuado

W/w

Wí: naranja

Wag: leña

Wekoell: Músico

Weya’: Danza

Tawa’: mi abuela

Wenllin: trabajador

X/x

Xjollo’: Zoogocho

Xao: tu papá

Xop: 6

Bex: tomate

Bxin: aura

Bxide’: estropajo

XH/xh

Xhiko’: Tu perro

Xhis: barañas

Bxhidw: beso

Xhiga’: jícara

Xop: 6

Y/y

Ya: fierro

Yag: árbol

Beye’: hielo

Laya’: mi diente Yade: Yaté

Z/z

Za: frijol

Beza’: zorra

Nhez: camino

Bzinha’: ratón

Syntax

Sentence Structure

Zoogocho Zapotec uses Verb Subject Object sentence structure. It is possible to use Object Verb Subject, and Subject Verb Object but they only occur in special situations.

Sentence Structure
Verb Subject Object

(VSO)

Object Verb Subject

(OVS)

Subject Verb Object

(SVO)

dx-aogo

CONT-eat

be’ko’

dog

yet

tortilla

dx-aogo be’ko’ yet

CONT-eat dog tortilla

‘The dog is eating tortillas.’

yet

tortilla

dx-aogo

CONT-eat

be’ko’

dog

yet dx-aogo be’ko’

tortilla CONT-eat dog

‘Tortillas, the dog is eating.’

be’ko’=n’

dog=DET

dx-aogo

CONT-eat

yet

tortilla

be’ko’=n’ dx-aogo yet

dog=DET CONT-eat tortilla

‘It’s the dog that’s eating tortillas.’

Noun Phrases

Adjective-Noun Order: The ordering of adjectives and nouns.

When asked to cite adjectives in isolations native speakers will invariably put da the inanimate classifier in front of the adjective.

Da is used as an inanimate classifier, bi is a classifier for small things and be is an animate classifier. These three classifiers can be used in sentences when agreeing with the head noun. The reason behind the conditioning for this remains undetermined.

Plural Markers

Not always present in plural noun phrases, and plurality is either recovered from context or from verbal marking. Ka is used to mark a plural noun

Demonstratives

Demonstratives follow their nouns, and either appear by themselves as in or with a classifier as in.

Determiners

The determiner is a clitic which has three main variants; one which occurs following a non-nasal consonant as in is =en’, one which occurs with words ending in n or nh is =na’, as in , and, finally, the one which occurs after a vowel is =n  or =na’ in free variation as in . Determiners occur at the end of a noun phrase.

References

  1. Zoogocho Zapotec at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Long & Cruz (1999)
  3. "Los Angeles immigrant community pushes to keep Zapotec language alive". PRI, Public Radio International. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  4. "OLAC resources in and about the Zoogocho Zapotec language". Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  5. Sonnenschein, Aaron (2005). A descriptive grammar of San Bartolomé Zoogocho Zapotec. Lincom Europa. ISBN 9783895868030.
  • Sonnenschein, Aaron Huey (2005). A descriptive grammar of San Bartolomé Zoogocho Zapotec. Munich: Lincom Europa. ISBN 9783895868030.
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