Proto-Mixe–Zoquean language
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).
| Proto-Mixe–Zoquean | |
|---|---|
| Proto-Mixe–Zoque | |
| (partial reconstruction) | |
| Reconstruction of | Mixe–Zoquean languages |
| Era | ca. 2000–1200 BCE |
Evidence of this proto-Mixe–Zoque language is limited, and researchers have reconstructed only a small amount of its vocabulary, about 450 items.[1]
Ethnic marker
Olmec influence on neighboring groups and cultures, and those that followed them suggest that they shared a similar language, or had roots in a similar language, called the proto-Mixe Zoque.[2] In later Mesoamerican languages, evidence of loan words suggests that in earlier times the Olmecs' influence involved not only the material culture, but the language as well. Many of the words borrowed by these early civilizations show a shared vocabulary of Mesoamerican cultigens, beans, squash, tomatoes, maize, and food preparation.[3] The vocabulary reveals that Mesoamerican speakers had a sophisticated culture for their time.
Phonology
A vowel could either be short or long, and the nucleus of a syllable could either involve a short or long vowel, or was followed by /ʔ/ or /h/.[4]
Mixe–Zoque language
Archaeologists call this culture Mokaya, which means 'people of the corn' in the contemporary Mixe–Zoque languages.[5] 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.[6]
References
- 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.
- Campbell, Lyle; Kaufman, Terrence (1976). "A Linguistic Look at the Olmecs". American Antiquity 41 (1): 80-89.
- Evans, Susan Toby 2008 Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History, second edition. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
- Elson, Benjamin F. (1992). "Reconstructing Mixe-Zoque". Summer Institute of Linguistics (107): 577–592.
- 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, 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.