Chibchan Languages


Chibchan Languages

 

a language family of the Chibcha Indian tribes. The Chibchan languages are spoken in northeastern South America and southern Central America—in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Costa Rica. They comprise the following language groups: Western Chibchan (subgroups Talamanca, Barbacoa, Guatuso, and Cuna); Pacific Chibchan (Isthmian and Colombian Chibcha); Inter-Andean Chibchan (Paez, Coconuco, and Popayanense); and Eastern Chibchan (Cundinamarca, Arhuaco, Central-American Chibcha). Some scholars combine the Chibchan languages with the Misumalpan languages (Miskito, Sumo, Matagalpa) and other languages to form a Macro-Chibchan family.

REFERENCE

Mason, J. A. “The Languages of South America.” In Handbook of South American Indians, vol. 6. Washington, D.C., 1950.