Chonan languages

The Chonan languages are a family of indigenous American languages which were spoken in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. Two Chon languages are well attested: Selkʼnam (or Ona), spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory in the northeast of Tierra del Fuego; and Tehuelche spoken by the people of the same name who occupied territory north of Tierra del Fuego. The name of the family is from čonn, the Selkʼnam word for 'man'.

The Selkʼnam people were widely studied by anthropologists such as Martin Gusinde and Anne Chapman throughout the 20th century. However, their language went extinct in the 1970s.

The Haush spoke a language similar to Ona. Some scholars also add to the family the Teushen language — once spoken by the Teushen, located between the Tehuelche and Puelche —though it is poorly attested.

Viegas Barros (2005) attempts to demonstrate that Puelche to the north is related to the Chon languages and would constitute one branch of an extended Chonan family. This proposal has been picked up by Lyle Campbell. Based on the scanty evidence that is available, the Het peoples (or at least the Didiuhet [Querandí]) might be speakers of languages within the proposed Puelche branch.

If this is correct, the Chon family would be as follows:

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Patagon (Chonan) languages. Additional words are also provided.

• Alain Fabre, 2005, Diccionario etnolingüístico y guía bibliográfica de los pueblos indígenas sudamericanos: CHON[1]