Zamucoan ethnonymy in the 18th century and the etymology of Ayoreo

Ciucci, Luca (2021) Zamucoan ethnonymy in the 18th century and the etymology of Ayoreo. Journal de la Société des américanistes, 107 (2). pp. 77-114.

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Abstract

This study presents new data on Zamucoan ethnonymy and solves an etymological problem concerning the term Ayoreo. The earliest documented Zamucoan language is Old Zamuco, spoken in the 18th century in the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos and close to present-day Ayoreo. The morphology and meaning of ethnonyms used by Zamucoan peoples in the 18th century are analyzed. Previously undocumented ethnic denominations emerge, including the endonym of the Old Zamuco-speaking people. Some Zamucoan ethnonyms are not from Old Zamuco, but from another Zamucoan variety spoken in the 18th century, which shows a plural suffix identical to that of present-day Ayoreo. While it is confirmed that Zamuco is an exonym, this article provides new evidence that the term Ayoreo was not borrowed, since a cognate is attested in Old Zamuco. Finally, although Ayoreo, 'people, human beings', is an autochthonous word, its adoption as an ethnonym is relatively recent and is due to social dynamics common to other Chacoan populations after the Chaco War.

Item ID: 70832
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1957-7842
Keywords: Ayoreo, Chaco languages, ethnonymy, morphology, Old Zamuco, Zamucoan
Copyright Information: © Société des Américanistes
Date Deposited: 17 Dec 2021 04:43
FoR Codes: 47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470406 Historical, comparative and typological linguistics @ 30%
47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470407 Language documentation and description @ 35%
47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470499 Linguistics not elsewhere classified @ 35%
SEO Codes: 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280116 Expanding knowledge in language, communication and culture @ 100%
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