An inside view of the daily working life of a linguist interested in language description and linguistic theory. (Click on any image below to enlarge it.)
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Bishop Andres and the tempting devils
Friday, May 15, 2015
Monday, May 11, 2015
Tecticpac documents in the typology of Zapotec orthographies
a.) spellings of /r/: in Mexicanist orthographies usually spelled
b.) use of doubled vowels
In this respect, a group of documents written in the town of Tecticpac between 1610-1626 are interesting. The documents in question are
These documents seem like the earlier Mexicanist writing, in that use of doubled vowels is not common, but this group of documents is also fascinating since it shows variable use of
(More details on t/r in Tecticpac in a following post.)
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Rhyming poetry in Colonial Zapotec
I was interested to find an example of rhyming poetry in Zapotec in a Rosary written in 1732 (republished in 1766) by Levanto. Here is a sample:
==============================
Hay una tradicción muy fuerte de poesía en la lengua zapoteca contemporanea. Hay un revista aquí (en inglés) del trabajo de unos poetas importantes.
Pero me interesaba a encontrar un ejemplo de poesía zapoteca de rimas en un rosario de 1732 (republicado en 1766) por Levanto. Aquí es una muestra:
Friday, May 8, 2015
The Ticha project
Ticha: A Digital Text Explorer for Colonial Zapotec
An overview of the project is at Ticha.
My talented collaborators on the project are Brook Lillehaugen, Michel Oudijk, Laurie Allen, and Enrique Valdivia. And Haverford undergrad May Plumb has been doing a fabulous job as a student assistant.
Orthographic variants in Colonial Valley Zapotec
One such word is bitoo ~ bitao 'God'. In Feria (1567) and Cordova (1578), this is consistently spelled with a single in the first syllable. In Aguero (1666) and Levanto (1732) the spelling has shifted to biitoo.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Different orthographic traditions in Colonial Valley Zapotec
I've labeled the two traditions the Mexicanist and the Oaxacanist traditions. Important texts in the Mexicanist tradition include Feria's (1567) Doctrina and Cordova's (1578) Vocabulario and Arte. The oldest texts in Zapotec are in the Mexicanist orthography.
Important texts in the Oaxacanist tradition include Aguero's (1666) Miscelanea Espiritual and Levanto's (1736/1776) Cathecismo
I've found two main diagnostics so far:
- The Mexicanist orthography imitates the spelling of Nahuatl and avoids use of the letters , even though Colonial Valley Zapotec almost certainly had phonemes /b, d, g, r, u/. One very frequent morpheme in CVZ is the aspect marker /r(i) ~ r-u-/. (The two allomorphs are correlated with different verb classes, and the verb classes are correlated with transitivity.) Texts in the Mexicanist tradition spell this aspect prefix as
or . - The Oaxacanist orthography has begun to depart from the Mexicanist orthography in the spelling of /r/, and regularly uses
and .
doubled vowels
- Modern Valley Zapotec vowels have distinctions of stress, phonation type, and tone. (Interrelated in somewhat intricate ways.) Colonial Valley Zapotec must have had at least stress and tone distinctions, though they are not marked in a very regular way in the orthography. The Mexicanist orthography occasionally marks vowels with a grave or acute accent, and occasionally doubles a vowel. However use of doubled vowels is relative unusual.
- The Oaxacanist orthography uses doubled vowels much more liberally than the Mexicanist orthography. (At approximately twice the rate.)
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
More on the active/stative distinction in Timucua
The overall pattern so far is
Sunday, March 8, 2015
An active/stative distinction in Timucua?
The patterns:
A V-nica = 1st pl subject
B ni-V-bo = 1st pl subject
The B pattern is identical to what is always found for a 1st pl object -- ni-V-bo.
Verbs that seem to be in the A group include
- pueno 'come'
- nate ... mani-si 'pardon'
- tamalo 'ask, entreat'
- abosini 'be (pl. subject)'
- iso 'do, make'
- patu 'be cold'
- toco 'come out'
- nahiabo 'know'
- lapusi 'request'
- areco 'make'
- hime 'return'
- hoboso 'receive'
- quachi 'teach'
Verbs in the B group include
- balu 'live'
- ara 'be many'
- nihi 'die'
- ni 'suffer'
- fari 'return'
- abosini 'be (pl.) subject'
- ini 'be'
- chebe 'be lost'
- nurabo 'tell a lie'
The semantics of this are not straightforward, but most of the verbs in group A are agentive, and most in group B are non-agentive. (Exceptions -- nurabo 'tell a lie'; patu 'be cold'; nahiabo 'know')
The only verb I have found so far with both A and B inflection for 1st pl is abosini, which seems to be a kind of auxiliary.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The sixth day of creation (Timucua version)
1627 Cat, f30r-32r [Sixth day of creation]
1.1
Equela
equela
day
,
namarecamima
na-
instr
mareca
six
-mi
ordinal
-ma
art
,
Viernes
Viernes
Friday
equela
equela
day
nante
nan
called
-te
part
caqi
caqi
this
,
vtichunco
vtichu
earth
-nco
RelCl
inemima
inemi
all
-ma
art
,
Dios
Dios
God
hulubonta
hulubo
farm, till
-n
pass
-ta
part
[
Folio
30v
]
ysamolonta
ysamolo
renew
-n
pass
-ta
part
,
quanuntasiro
quanu
adorn, beautify, dress
-n
pass
-ta
part
-siro
desired complement
,
maninimano
mani
want
-ni
pass
-mano
from
,
hachipile
hachipile
animal
inereqe
ine
thing
-reqe
each
inema
inema
all
siqi
siqi
exist
habeleta
-habe
irrealis
-leta
purpose
,
camontechule
ca-
thus
mon
call
-techu
remote past
-le
affirm
.
1.2
Cache
cache
hour, time
vti
vti
earth
hachipile
hachipile
animal
,
inereqe
ine
thing
-reqe
each
inemima
inemi
all
-ma
art
,
tocosota
toco
come out
-so
caus
-ta
part
,
siqisohache
siqiso
create
=hache
=imper
,
moniqe
moni
say
-qe
if
,
naquana
naquana
without delay
,
abitimatiqua
abitima
unknown noun (time?)
-tiqua
must not
,
hachipile
hachipile
animal
puqua
puqua
group
inibity
,
metenolehety
mete
tell, recount?
-no
nmzr
-lehe
or
-ty
neg
,
siqita
siqi
be born
-ta
part
tocosota
toco
come out
-so
caus
-ta
part
,
quosotechulaha
quoso
make
-techu
perfect
-laha
,
yano
yano
furthermore
,
hachipile
hachipile
animal
catubisico
catubi
be ferocious
-si
benef
-co
coord
yarabaco
yaraba
lion, panther
-co
coord
,
Araco
ara
bear
-co
coord
,
Elefanteco
elefante
*elephant
-co
coord
,
Renoceronteco
renoceronte
*rhinocerous
-co
coord
,
Dromedarioco
dromedario
*camel
-co
coord
Caballoco
caballo
horse
-co
indef
,
Iumentoco
iumento
donkey
-co
coord
,
Honosoco
honoso
deer
-co
coord
,
Yano
Yano
furthermore
,
hachipile
hachipile
animal
,
chirico
chirico
small
,
efaco
efa
dog
-co
coord
,
gatoco
gato
cat
-co
coord
,
pufico
pufi
fox species
-co
coord
,
aloco
alo
unknown small animal
-co
coord
,
chiquaco
chiqua
ferret
-co
coord
,
haueco
haue
fox species
-co
indef
queloco
quelo
rabbit
-co
coord
,
abilaco
abila
unknown small animal
-co
coord
,
yyolaribeco
yyolaribe
serpent, snake
-co
coord
yyola
yyola
snake
eyocareco
eyo
other
-care
plural
-co
coord
quenema
quene
and
-ma
art
,
ynihimaleleta
ynihimale
-leta
if
coesa
coesa
which, thing which
,
ano
ano
person
,
nasiqui
habema
-habe
irrealis
-ma
vsuff
,
arecontele
areco
make, prepare
-n
pass
-te
part
-le
affirm
Caqi
Caqi
this
,
hachi pilecaretoomama
hachipile
animal
-care
plural
tooma
all
-ma
art
,
hono
hono
food
,
nihimohabeqe
nihi
die
-mo
cause
-habe
irrealis
-qe
if
,
hono
hono
food
nemoquareqe
nemoqua
on behalf of
-reqe
each
,
siqita
siqi
be born
-ta
part
arecota
areco
make, prepare
-ta
part
,
nabalumo
na-
instr
balu
live
-mo
cause
habema
-habe
irrealis
-ma
vsuff
bequelesota
bequeleso
unknown verb
-ta
part
anomosouila
ano
person
moso
cause
-ui
past
-la
affirm
queniqe
queni
and
-qe
if
,
cume
cume
heart, chest, soul
arecotamaca
areco
make, prepare
-ta
part
maca
must (imperative sense, preceded by -ta)
,
caqi
caqi
this
hachipile
hachipile
animal
inemima
inemi
all
-ma
art
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
niqiumileboqe
ni-
1st
qiumile
-bo
pl
-qe
if
ninihiobohabema
ni-
1st
nihi
die
-bo
pl
-habe
irrealis
-ma
art
,
Diosima
Diosi
God
-ma
art
anohontela
ano
person
ho
expose, reveal
-nte
dur
-la
affirm
,
yano
yano
furthermore
,
ano
ano
person
,
ehenta
,
abosini
abosini
walk, behave in a certain way (pl. subj?)
mohabe
mo
-habe
,
yano
yano
furthermore
soba
soba
meat
iquenta
iquen
kill
-ta
part
honosomosima
honoso
deer
mosima
,
oquoma
oquo
body
-ma
art
,
heta
he
eat
-ta
part
,
sichilimano
sichili
hide, skin
-mano
from
,
pequarecota
pequa
chamois, leather
areco
make, prepare
-ta
part
,
abita
abi
wear, put on clothes
-ta
part
yano
yano
furthermore
carnero
carnero
lamb
,
henta
he
eat
-n
pass
-ta
part
,
mine
mine
(s)he/it
puchimima
puchi
hair
-mi
3poss
-ma
art
lana
lana
wool
monoma
mono
call
-ma
art
,
porita
pori
spin? make clothes?
-ta
part
paluta
palu
weave
-ta
part
pabirota
pabiro
spin? make clothes?
-ta
part
amuna
amuna
clothing
chieta
chie
make, prepare
-ta
part
nante
nan
called
-te
part
,
yano
yano
furthermore
,
hitisucuchi
hiti
evil, demon
sucuchi
purse, money bag
,
nate
nate
porita
pori
spin? make clothes?
-ta
part
amuna
amuna
clothing
arecota
areco
make, prepare
-ta
part
,
seda
seda
*silk
monoleqe
mono
say
-leqe
focus
damascoleqe
damasco
damask
-leqe
focus
,
terciopeloleqe
terciopelo
*velvet
-leqe
focus
,
rasoleqe
raso
*satin
-leqe
focus
,
tafetan
tafetan
taffeta
muenoleqe
mueno
call
-leqe
focus
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
acatalama
acatala
bed
-ma
,
nameleninoleta
na-
instr
mele
prepare (animal or plant matter)
ni
die
-no
nmzr
-leta
if
,
[
Fol
31r
following
]
nahulubonta
na-
instr
hulubo
farm, till
nta
hauele
-haue
irrealis
le
cop
Acu
Acu
this/these
Canico
cani
guano (grass or spanish moss)
-co
coord
iquita
iqui
go up, ascend
-ta
part
,
quenemano
quene
and
-mano
from
canisula
cani
guano (grass or spanish moss)
sula
belt
arecota
areco
make, prepare
-ta
part
abita
abi
wear, put on clothes
-ta
part
melantahaue
melan
-ta
part
-haue
irrealis
ano
ano
person
,
nohoboqe
noho
give
-bo
pl
-qe
if
,
quentela
quente
surely?
-la
affirm
,
2
Acunate
acu
all
nate
that
,
apacha
apacha
plant
,
yahacote
yaha
one
-cote
any
siquita
siqui
exist
-ta
part
,
opomo
opomo
fabric?
hicoqe
hico
live with, be with
-qe
if
,
opomochiricoqe
opomo
line, chain
chirico
small
qe
look for
,
quenema
quene
and
-ma
art
,
arecohabeleta
areco
make, prepare
-habe
irrealis
-leta
if
,
yano
yano
furthermore
apacha
apacha
better
,
eyo
eyo
other
lino
lino
linen
monoleqe
mono
say
-leqe
focus
ruan
ruan
cotton fabric
,
crealeqe
crea
kind of fabric?
-leqe
focus
,
cañamaço
cañamaço
embroidered canvas
,
lona
lona
*canvas
leqe
-leqe
focus
,
eyomate
eyo
other
-mate
and
quenequa
quene
and
-qua
with, by
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
,
nacututahauema
na-
instr
cutu
-ta
part
-haue
irrealis
-ma
art
,
anohontele
,
caqi
caqi
this
,
inino
ini
commit
-no
nmzr
tera
tera
good
,
niterusubo
ni-
1st
terusu
do something well
-bo
pl
tema
-tema
nominalizer
,
taco
taco
who
,
meteheleqete
,
Caqi
Caqi
this
abosininteno
abosini
live (in a certain way)
-nte
dur
-no
nmzr
,
buluta
bulu
live
-ta
part
niabosinibohaue
ni-
1st
abosini
walk, behave in a certain way (pl. subj?)
-bo
pl
-haue
irrealis
fetecota
feteco
ask in prayer (for mercy)
-ta
part
,
ano
ano
person
,
arata
ara
help
-ta
part
,
hero
-he
future
-ro
desir
nosontechuleto
n-
1st
oso
move quickly, race
-n
pass
-techu
perfect
-leto
.
3
Onate
,
yano
yano
furthermore
apachisiquita
apachi
plant
siqui
exist
-ta
part
,
henolehabema
heno
food
le
cop
-habe
irrealis
-ma
art
,
yano
yano
furthermore
,
norobintahabeco
n-
1st
orobi
cure
-n
pass
-ta
part
-habe
irrealis
-co
coord
,
vquata
vqua
take
-ta
part
,
baluhabeco
balu
live
-habe
irrealis
-co
coord
,
yanacu
yanacu
and then, thus
elocota
eloco
rub on?, bathe?
-ta
part
,
napileta
na-
instr
pile
give water?
-ta
part
vcuta
vcu
drink
-ta
part
,
samota
samo
bathe
-ta
part
orobita
orobi
cure
-ta
part
iqilabama
iqilaba
sick
-ma
art
,
baluta
balu
live
-ta
part
habeco
-habe
irrealis
-co
coord
,
quenema
quene
and
-ma
art
,
anohonteno
,
Acu
Acu
this/these
,
nahiabotamaca
nahiabo
know
-ta
part
maca
must (imperative sense, preceded by -ta)
,
caqi
caqi
this
apacha
apacha
better
careco
-care
plural
-co
indef
,
niye
niye
herb
co
-co
coord
orobohabema
orobo
cure
-habe
irrealis
-ma
art
,
mine
mine
Lady; Lord
yayila
yayi
big, strong
-la
affirm
,
caqi
caqi
this
yayinomano
yayi
big, strong
-no
nmzr
-mano
from
Diosima
Diosi
God
-ma
art
ohontelaha
,
naqueniqe
naqueni
do this
-qe
if
,
apachachiqequa
apacha
better
chiqequa
,
orobonolehabele
hiti
hiti
evil, demon
ytuhunu
ytuhu
pray
-nu
ger
,
naya mebinaqe
na-
instr
yame
redo, repeat
-bi
past
-na
nmzr
-qe
if
,
yayitila
yayi
big, strong
-ti
neg
-la
affirm
,
hity
hity
evil, demon
ytuhunu
ytuhu
pray
-nu
ger
yquimileqe
yquimi
be for (s.o.'s) benefit
-leqe
focus
,
anobalutela
ano
person
balu
live
-te
part
-la
affirm
,
manetiquanimaca
mani
think
-atiqua
must not
-ni
must not
maca
prohibit
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
maniqeqere
mani
want
-qeqere
or if
,
iquilaba
iquilaba
sick
balubila
balu
live
-bila
,
minemaninqe
ano
ano
person
nihibile
,
nihinomante
nihi
die
-no
nmzr
-mate
and
balunumate
balunu
life
-mate
and
,
mine
mine
Lady; Lord
hamimile
hami
possessed thing
-mi
3poss
-le
affirm
quenteno
,
queniqe
queni
and
-qe
if
mineno
mine
person
-no
nsuff
,
nabohota
na-
instr
boho
believe
-ta
part
tamalotequa
milabine
hebuasta
hebua
speak
-s
benef
-ta
part
,
lapusta
lapu
request
-s
benef
-ta
part
,
Dios
Dios
God
anohamina
ano
respect marker
hami
owner
-na
1sgPoss
,
nimelabonhiaue
ni-
1st
melaboni
have mercy
-haue
irrealis
,
caqua
caqua
man
balunumate
balunu
life
-mate
and
,
balunu
balu
live
-nu
nmzr
,
nanemimate
nanemi
eternal
-mate
and
,
nohobonihaue
n-
1st
oho
give
-bo
pl
-ni
pass
-haue
irrealis
,
anotamalota
ano
person
tamalo
ask, entreat
-ta
part
,
maca
maca
must (imperative sense, preceded by -ta)
.
4.1
Anoco
ano
person
-co
indef
,
yechetastahabele
yeche
ask
-ta
part
is
say
-ta
present
-habe
irrealis
-le
affirm
,
Diosima
Diosi
God
-ma
art
,
ny
ny-
1st
hò
hò
love (with mani)
,
manisibota
mani
love (with ho)
-si
benef
-bo
pl
-ta
part
,
hubuasota
hubuaso
love
-ta
part
,
mosontele
moso
appear
-nte
dur
-le
affirm
,
queniqe
queni
and
-qe
if
,
hachaquenta
hachaqueni
do what
-ta
part
?
4.2
yyolaribeco
yyolaribe
serpent, snake
-co
coord
,
yyolayorabaco
yyolayoraba
viper
-co
coord
,
vtimalaco
vtimala
black snake (poisonous)
-co
coord
,
fechenico
fecheni
snake sp.
-co
coord
,
yyolapiraco
yyola
snake
pira
red
-co
coord
,
elatubasaco
elatubasa
snake sp.
-co
coord
,
yyola
yyola
snake
yoquacareco
yoqua
other
-care
plural
-co
coord
quenema
quene
and
-ma
art
nìchicobotema
nì-
1st
chico
bite, strike
-bo
pl
-tema
nominalizer
,
mine
mine
person
,
maqemima
maqe
poison
-mi
3poss
-ma
art
,
nyyquentamala
ny-
1st
yquen
kill
-ta
part
-ma
plur
-la
affirm
?
4.3
hachaqueniqe
hachaqueni
why
ano
ano
respect marker
areconte
areco
make, prepare
-nte
dur
ma
-ma
art
?
4.4
R
Ocotota
ocoto
hear
-ta
part
,
cocolemaca
-coco
adverb forming
le
cop
maca
must? (preceded by -coco-le)
,
chiahosibohale
chi-
2
ahosi
only (doing it only to this one)
-bo
pl
hale
,
caqi
caqi
this
hachipile
hachipile
animal
toomanco
tooma
after
-nco
RelCl
,
yqicomiqua
yqico
miqua
,
Anochicotaleta
anochicota
friend
-leta
indef
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
,
ninihauema
ni-
1st
ni
die
-haue
irrealis
-ma
question
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
arecontechulahacu
,
Andacoco
,
caqua
caqua
man
balunu
balu
live
-nu
nmzr
,
qibema
qibe
first
-ma
art
,
Adam
Adam
Adam
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
Ytimilenoleta
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
hebuanoma
hebuano
word
-ma
art
,
hanta
han
not do; refuse to do
-ta
part
,
ycatuta
ycatu
disobey
-ta
part
quostaqere
quos
make
-ta
part
-qere
comp
,
caqi
caqi
this
hachipile
hachipile
animal
toomama
tooma
all
-ma
art
,
naquana
naquana
without delay
,
Adan
Adan
Adam
,
hebuanomima
hebuano
word
-mi
3poss
-ma
art
boyotimota
boyotimo
disobey
-ta
part
,
vtitatiletetiqua
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
irimileleta
iri
war
-mile
1plPoss
-leta
if
,
moqe
mo
plur
-qe
and then
,
abosintamale
,
Acu
Acu
this/these
andaqua
anda
earlier, previous
-qua
if
inoninotoroqe
inonino
toro
without
-qe
if
,
isticoco
isticoco
torment
ninotoroqe
,
iniheti inino
iniheti
sin
ini
commit
-no
ger
,
ofuenoqere
ofueno
after
-qere
comp
,
iqilabono
iqilabo
sick
-no
ger
,
hebeno
hebeno
disease
,
toomama
tooma
all
-ma
art
,
isticoco
isticoco
torment
ininopuquaco
inino
sin
puqua
group
-co
coord
,
Adanino
adani
Adam
-no
nsuff
,
inta
inta
be
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
mine
mine
Lady; Lord
qiemileta
qie
son (of a man)
-mi
3poss
-leta
indef
,
naichiqita
na-
instr
ichiqi
represent
-ta
part
,
napalenta
[
Fol
32v
following
]
niniboteno
.
4.5
Acu
Acu
this/these
cumepalino
cumepali
desire
-no
ger
,
lehauemano
le
cop
-haue
irrealis
-mano
verbal sense after -haue
,
iniheti
iniheti
sin
,
ininomabetaleqe
caqi
caqi
this
,
hachipile
hachipile
animal
,
yaha
yaha
one
,
mosicote
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
chacalileta
chacali
chacal (political office)
-leta
if
,
chumota
chumo
resemble, act like
-ta
part
,
ano
ano
person
nacaluboso
na-
instr
calubo
be punished
-so
caus
,
habema
-habe
irrealis
-ma
vsuff
,
nichicobotanima
ni-
1st
chico
bite, strike
-bo
pl
-ta
part
-nima
when
,
yano
yano
furthermore
,
hachicalua
eyoco
eyo
other
-co
indef
,
calua
calua
be punished
eyomatequenequa
,
heca
heca
1pl 'we, us, our'
inihete
,
ninisiba
ni-
1st
ini
commit
-siba
AgentNom
,
niabosintemabeta
,
nicalubosotanteno
ni-
1st
calubo
be punished
-so
caus
tanteno
,
Acu
Acu
this/these
caqi
caqi
this
hachipile
hachipile
animal
nichicobotema
ni-
1st
chico
bite, strike
-bo
pl
-tema
nominalizer
,
Diosima
Diosi
God
-ma
art
,
mine
mine
Lady; Lord
bendicionima
bendicioni
*blessing
-ma
art
,
ano
ano
person
ecasibitichulena
inte
in
be
-te
present
,
naquenema
naquene
do this
-ma
art
,
Diosi
Diosi
God
bendicionima
bendicioni
*blessing
-ma
art
nocomicoco
nocomi
true
-coco
adverb forming
lapustanaqeno
lapu
request
-s
benef
-ta
part
naqeno
way?
mine
mine
Lady; Lord
,
eca
eca
these
hanimano
ha
aux (oft. preceded by -ile)
-nimano
if (following ha)
,
caqi
caqi
this
hachicalua
,
toomanco
tooma
after
-nco
RelCl
,
ano
ano
person
balumobila
,
nahiabotachicaqe
nahiabo
know
-ta
part
chicaqe
.