# Jirajaran languages

The Jirajaran languages are group of extinct languages once spoken in western Venezuela in the regions of Falcón and Lara. All of the Jirajaran languages appear to have become extinct in the early 20th century.

## Languages

Based on adequate documentation, three languages are definitively classified as belonging to the Jirajaran family:
* Jirajara, spoken in the state of Falcón
* Ayomán, spoken in the village of Siquisique in the state of Lara
* Gayón, spoken at the sources of the Tocuyo River in the state of Lara
Loukotka includes four additional languages, for which no linguistic documentation exists:
* Coyone, spoken at the sources of the Portuguesa River in the state of Portuguesa
* Cuiba, spoken near the city of Aricagua
* Atatura, spoken between the Rocono and Tucupido rivers
* Aticari, spoken along the Tocuyo River
Mason (1950) lists:
* Gayón (Cayon)
* Ayomán
* Xagua
** Cuiba (?)
* Jirajara

## Classification

The Jirajaran languages are generally regarded as isolates. Adelaar and Muysken note certain lexical similarities with the Timotean languages and typological similarity to the Chibchan languages, but state that the data is too limited to make a definitive classification. Jahn, among others, has suggested a relation between the Jirajaran language and the Betoi languages, mostly on the basis of similar ethnonyms. Greenberg and Ruhlen classify Jirajaran as belonging to the Paezan language family, along with the Betoi languages, the Páez language, the Barbacoan languages and others.

## Language contact

Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Sape, Timote-Kuika, and Puinave-Kak language families due to contact.

## Typology

Based on the little documentation that exists, a number of typological characteristics are reconstructable:

### 1. VO word order in transitive clauses

apasi
I.cut
mamán
my.hand
(Jirajara)
apasi mamán
I.cut my.hand
'I cut my hand'

### 2. Subjects precede verbs

depamilia
the.family
buratá
is.good
(Ayamán)
depamilia buratá
the.family is.good
'The family is good'

### 3. Possessors which precede the possessed

shpashiú
arc
yemún
its.rope
(Ayamán)
shpashiú yemún
arc its.rope
'the arc of the rope'

### 4. Adjectives follow the nouns they modify

pok
hill
diú
big
(Jirajara)
pok diú
hill big
'big hill'

### 5. Numerals precede the nouns they quantify

boque
one
soó
cigarette
(Ayamán)
boque soó
one cigarette
'one cigarette'

### 6. Use of postpositions, rather than prepositions

angüi
I.go
fru-ye
Siquisique-to
(Jirajara)
angüi fru-ye
I.go Siquisique-to
'I go to Siquisique.'

## Vocabulary comparison

Jahn (1927) lists the following basic vocabulary items.
    Comparison of Jirajaran vocabulary, based on Jahn (1927) English Ayomán Gayón Jirajara firedugdut, idúdueg foota-sengánseguéangán hendegaródigaródegaró housegagaphiyásgagap snakehuhí, jujíjujítúb suniñyivatyuaú
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.
    Comparison of Jirajaran vocabulary, based on Loukotka (1968) glossJirajaraAyománGayón onebógha twoauyí threemongañá heada-ktegia-tóghis-tóz eara-uñána-kivóughhimigui tootha-king maniyítyúshyus wateringingguayí fireduegdugdut sunyuaúiñyivat maizedosdoshdosivot birdchiskuachiskua housegagapgagaphiyás