Timote language

Timote, also known as Cuica or Timote–Cuica, is the language of the Timote–Cuica state in the Venezuelan Andes, around the present city of Mérida and south of Lake Maracaibo.

The language is reported to have gone extinct in the early to mid 20th century. However, in 1977 it was reported that the indigenous village of Mutús, in the heart of the old Timote state, still spoke an indigenous language, which would presumably be Timote. The name is apparently Timote, as 'Timote' itself derives from ti-motɨ 'Mutú speakers', and mutú or mukú is a common toponym in the region. This lead had not been followed up as of Adelaar (2004).

Dialects

The Timote and Cuica peoples apparently spoke dialects of a single language; some of the last reports of Cuica claim it was nothing other than Timote. Data is limited, but the connection is clear in the numerals:

Consonant clusters, somewhat unusual for the area, are found, especially in Cuica: kču 'bird', stots 'blood', Timote klef 'rainy season', hutn 'dog'.

References

• Adelaar, Willem & Pieter Muysken (2004). The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge University Press. pp. 124–129

External links

• Fabre: Mutús

Languages of Venezuela
Official language	Spanish
Indigenous languages	Arawakan Caquetio Mandawaca Paraujano Piapoco Warekena Wayuu Arutani-Sape Arutani Sapé Cariban Carib Japreria Kapóng Macushi Mapoyo-Yabarana Panare Sikiana Tamanaku Ye'kuana Yukpa Chibchan Barí Uwa Guahiban Cuiba Guahibo Jirajaran Ayoman Gayon Jirajara Timotean Mucuchí Timote Other Betoi Maku-Auari Nheengatu Ninam Warao Yaruro
Non-Native languages	Spanish Llanero Maracucho German Colonia Tovar Italian
Sign languages	Venezuelan Sign Language