These four vocabularies of some dialects of the Arawak stock, from localities wide apart, disclose extensive variations from the standard tongue. They are, however, rather apparent than real, and often depend on either variations in orthography, or the substitution of synonymous or allied words. This is well seen in the comparative table of thirty-six Arawak dialects presented in tabular form by Karl von den Steinen in his Durch Central-Brasilien, s. 294. Neither he nor Adam includes the Chontaquiro in the Arawak stock, but a comparison of vocabularies leaves no doubt about it. The Chontaquiro prefix hue is the Piapoco gua, = “thy.”
DIALECTS OF THE CARIB STOCK.
| Bakairi. | Motilone. | Guaque. | Tamanaca. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man, | uguruto, | ya´kano, | guire, | nuani. |
| Woman, | pekoto, | esate, | guerechi, | aica. |
| Sun, | tsisi, | güicho, | uehi. | |
| Moon, | nuna, | kuna, | nuna. | |
| Fire, | pĕ´to, | güesta, | majoto. | |
| Water, | paru, | kuna-siase, | tuna. | |
| Head, | kχinaraχu, | jutuye, | prutpe. | |
| Eye, | kχānu´, | anú, | emuru, | januru. |
| Ear, | kχi uanata´, | pana, | janari, | panari. |
| Mouth, | kχi ta´λ, | indare. | ||
| Nose, | kχana´λ, | ona, | onari. | |
| Tongue, | kχ u´lu, | inico, | nuru. | |
| Tooth, | kχ ie´λ, | kiyuko, | yeri. | |
| Hand, | kχ ama´λ, | oma, | niñare, | jamgnari. |
| Foot, | kχ uχuλ, | pisa, | iyu puru, | ptari. |
| House, | ŏtá, | pesoa, | migna. | |
| 1, | tokalole, | tukum-arko, | ovin. | |
| 2, | asage, | kos-arko, | oco. | |
| 3, | asage-tokalo, | koser-arko, | orva. | |
| 4, | asage-asage, | kos aj-taka. | ||
| 5, | oma (hand). |
The oldest existing forms of the Carib stock are believed by Von den Steinen to be preserved in the Bakairi, which I have accordingly placed first in the vocabularies of this family.
The Motilone, which is placed beside it, is one of the most northwestern dialects, and shows singular tenacity of the radicals of the language.
The Guaque, which is substantially the same as the Carijona, is the extreme western member of the family, but presents unmistakably the physiognomy of the stock.
Of the Tamanaca I have seen but incomplete specimens, but on account of its former importance, I insert it in this connection.