Karankawa language
{{Short description|Extinct language of North America}}
{{Expand language|topic=|langcode=es|otherarticle=Idioma karankawa|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Karankawa
|nativename=Keles
|states=United States
|region=Texas coast, from Galveston Island to Corpus Christi
|ethnicity=Karankawa people
|extinct={{circa|1880}}
|familycolor=American
|family= unclassified
|iso3=zkk
|linglist=zkk
|glotto=kara1289
|glottorefname=Karankawa
|map=Karankawa lang.png
|mapcaption=Pre-contact distribution of the Karankawa language, lacking the historical inclusion of the Houston-Galveston area
}}
Karankawa {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|r|æ|ŋ|k|ə|w|ə}}{{OED|Karankawa}} is the extinct, unclassified language of the Texas coast, where the Karankawa people migrated between the mainland and the barrier islands. It was not closely related to other known languages in the area, many of which are also poorly attested, and may have been a language isolate. A couple hundred words are preserved, collected in 1698, 1720, and 1828; in the 1880s, three lists were collected from non-Karankawa who knew some words.
Karankawa has sometimes been included with neighboring languages in a Coahuiltecan family, but that is now thought to be spurious.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Phonology
| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|+ Consonant sounds ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | ! rowspan="2" | Bilabial ! rowspan="2" | Alveolar ! rowspan="2" |Palatal ! colspan="2" | Velar ! rowspan="2" |Glottal |
| plain
!lab. |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |Plosive
!voiceless |p |t | |k |kʷ |ʔ |
| voiced
|b |d | |ɡ | | |
| colspan="2" | Nasal
| width="20px" style="border-right: 0;" |m | width="20px" style="border-right: 0;" |n | | width="20px" style="border-right: 0;" | | | |
| colspan="2" |Affricate
| |ts |tʃ | | | |
| colspan="2" | Fricative
| style="border-right: 0;" | | style="border-right: 0;" |s |ʃ | style="border-right: 0;" |x | |h |
| colspan="2" | Approximant
|w | style="border-right: 0;" |l |j | | | |
There were also possible lateral affricate sounds [tɬ, dɮ] which were represented as
| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|+Vowel sounds ! !Back |
| Close
|i iː | |u uː |
|---|
| Mid
|e eː |ə |o oː |
| Open
| |a aː | |
Vocabulary
Though only a few hundred words of the Karankawa language are preserved, the following are selected words recorded by Albert Gatschet, a late Victorian anthropologist and linguist, referenced from the last fluent speakers of the language.{{cite book | author=Gatschet, Albert S. | year=1891 | url=https://archive.org/stream/karankawaindian00olivgoog#page/n6 | title=The Karankawa Indians: The Coast People of Texas | publisher=Peabody Museum, Harvard University | volume=1}}
- Nāt’sa "one", counted on the right pinky
- Haikia "two" or "second", counted on the right ring finger
- Kaxayi "three", counted on the right middle finger
- Hayo hak(ě)n "four", or "fourth", counted on the right index finger
- Do-aḍ "Four", or "fourth", literally "deer", counted on the right index finger
- Nāt’sa Behema, "five" or "fifth", literally "First Father", counted on the right thumb
- Hayo Haikia, "Six" or "Sixth", literally "Three two", counted on the left pinky
- Haikia Nāt’sa, "Seven" or "Seventh", literally "Second one", counted on left ring finger
- Haikia Behema, "Eight" or "Eighth", literally "Second father", counted on left middle finger
- Haikia Do-aḍ, "Nine" or "Ninth", literally "Second deer", counted on the left index finger
- (Do-aḍ) Habe "Ten" or "Tenth", literally "Ten(th deer)", counted on the left thumb
- Kaup(ě)n "Speak"
- Yamawe "Man"
- Glo-essen/Glos(ě)n "Boy"
- Kaninma "Woman" or "Mother"
- Ka'da "Girl"
- Glle-i "Water"
- Ahayika "Friend"
- Dōwal "Sun"
- Kiss "Dog"
- Peka "White"
- Pal/Ma "Black"
- Aknamus "Eat"
- Tcha "See"
- Ye "Go" or "Walk"
=Swanton (1940)=
The following vocabulary list of Karankawa is from John Swanton (1940).Swanton, John. 1940. Linguistic material from the tribes of southern Texas and northern Mexico.
:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
! gloss !! Karankawa | |
| about to | tcápn |
| acorn | kalac |
| adze | kusila |
| affectionate | mutá |
| after a while | messús |
| all the time | mucawáta |
| alligator | hókso |
| also | ténno |
| always | mucawáta |
| and | ténno |
| angry, to be very | napé-nai naxerúaxa pára |
| arm (forearm) | se-cotan |
| arm (upper) | se-imahaha |
| arrow | demo |
| ashes | ahona |
| at present | messús |
| ax | kialn |
| babe | kwā́n |
| bad | tcúta |
| ball for musket | kecila-demuks |
| barrel | búdel |
| basin | koje ön |
| beads | kujahin |
| beans | kudec |
| bear | ǒ's |
| beef | didot, tíkĕmai |
| behold, to | tcá |
| belly | a-luk |
| big | kunin |
| bird | kúdn |
| bird, a common | tekotsen |
| biscuit | kuejam |
| bison | didot |
| black | ma, pál |
| blue | tsō'l |
| board | kuaham |
| boat | awán, elucun |
| bow, a | gái, kruin |
| bowl | kok |
| boy | kolohs, níktam |
| bread | kwiáṃ |
| bread, fresh | kokam |
| break, to | táhama |
| breast | kanín |
| brush | tesselénia |
| bucket of tin | koláme |
| build (a fire), to | kosáta |
| building | bá-ak, kaham |
| bull | didot |
| by and by | messús |
| cabin | bá-ak, kaham |
| calf | koco |
| calico | kádla |
| calumet | kadiol |
| camp | bá-ak, kaham |
| can | tá |
| cannon | etjam |
| canoe | awā́n, elucun, uahahim |
| capture, to | haítn |
| cask | kaa-konam |
| cat | gáta |
| catch, to | haítn |
| cattle | didot |
| cherish, to | ka |
| chicken | kúdn, wólya |
| chief | hálba |
| child | kwā́n |
| chin | em-imian hanéna |
| cigarette | káhe, swénas |
| circular | lá-akum |
| cloth | kwíss |
| clothing | a-lams |
| cold | delin |
| come! | éwē |
| come, to | gás |
| come here! éwē | gás, wána |
| come quick! | éwē |
| converse, to | kaúpn |
| cord | bacina |
| com | kwiáṃ |
| cow, a | nen, didot |
| cowhorn | teke-dolan |
| crane | kĕdō'd, koln |
| curlew | kwojol |
| dangerous | tcúta |
| dart | kusila |
| day | bákta |
| dead | mál |
| dear | mutá |
| deer | dóatn, tekomandotsen |
| deerskin | kesul |
| desire, to | tá |
| disk-shaped | lá-akum |
| do, to | kosáta |
| dog | kec |
| don't cry! | ăhămmic |
| dress | kádla, kwíss |
| drink, to | kouaen |
| duck | kue, medá-u |
| dugout | awā́n |
| eagle | balsehe |
| eat, to | aknámas |
| egg | dáhome |
| eight | haíkia |
| exhausted | kwá-al |
| eye | em-ikus |
| eyebrows | im-lahue |
| fabric | kwíss |
| fall, to | amóak |
| far off | nyá wól |
| farewell! | atcáta |
| father | béhema |
| feathers | hamdolok |
| female | nen |
| fine | plá |
| finger | étsma |
| fire | húmhe, kwátci, kwoilesem |
| fire-pot | koko |
| fire-sticks | akta demaje |
| fish | áṃ, kiles |
| fish-hook | kusila |
| five | nā́tsa |
| flagon | kedika |
| flour | ámhătn |
| fly, a | kamej |
| foot | eham, kékeya |
| four | hayo |
| French, the | kalbasska |
| friend | aháyika |
| get away! | ăhắmmic |
| gimlet | klani |
| girl | kā́da |
| give, to | báwûs |
| glass | kusila |
| glassware | kujahin |
| globiform | lá-akum |
| go, to | gás, yé |
| go away! | wána |
| going to | tcápn |
| gone | budáma |
| good | kuìst-baha, plá |
| good bye! | atcáta |
| goose | lá-ak |
| gown | kádla, kwíss |
| grass | awátcxol |
| great | yá-an |
| grindstone | hama |
| grow, to | kwā́n |
| gun | kisulp |
| gunpowder | kalmel |
| hair | ekia aikui |
| hand | étsma |
| handsome | hamála |
| harpoon | kusila |
| hasten, to | kóta, xankéye |
| hat | kalama |
| hatchet | matcíta |
| hate, to | matákia |
| he | tál |
| head | en-okea |
| healthy | klabán |
| heart | láhama |
| hen | kúdn, wólya |
| hog | tapcewá |
| horn of cow | teke-dolan |
| horse | kanueüm, kuwáyi |
| house | bá-ak, kaham |
| hungry | ámel |
| hurry, to | kóta, xankéye |
| hurt, to | kassítcuwakn |
| hush | ăhắmmic |
| hut | bá-ak, kaham |
| I | náyi |
| injure, to | kassítcuwakn |
| it | tál |
| jug | kahan |
| jump, to | éṃ |
| kettle | kukujol |
| kill, to | ahúk |
| kitten | gáta |
| knee | en-klas |
| knife | bekekomb, kusila, silekáyi |
| know, to | kúmna, kwáss |
| large | yá-an |
| lark | kutsen |
| laugh, to | kaíta |
| leg | em-anpok |
| let us go! | wána |
| lie down, to | wú-ak |
| little | kwā́n, níktam |
| lodge | bá-ak, kaham |
| long | wól |
| long ago | upāt |
| love, to | ka |
| maize | kwiáṃ |
| make, to | káhawan, kosáta |
| man | ahaks, tecoyu, úci, yámawe |
| manufacture, to | káhawan |
| marry, to | mawída |
| mast | kesul |
| mat | didaham |
| me | náyi |
| metal | kusila |
| milk | tesnakwáya |
| mine | náyi |
| molasses | téskaus |
| moon | a-uil |
| mosquito | gắ |
| mother | kanín |
| mouth | emi-akwoi |
| much | wól |
| music | yŏ'ta |
| musket-ball | kecila-demuks |
| my | náyi |
| neck | em-sebek |
| needle | aguíya, besehena |
| nice | plá |
| nine | haíkia |
| no! | kóṃ |
| nose | em-ai aluak |
| not | kóṃ |
| now | acáhak |
| oak-apple | ēkskitula |
| obnoxious | tcúta |
| octopus | áṃ |
| one | nā́tsa |
| oyster | dắ |
| paddle | em-luajem |
| pail | kok |
| pain, to cause | kassítcuwakn |
| pan, frying- | koláme |
| paper | imetes akuam |
| past | budáma |
| peas | kudec |
| pelican | ōkman |
| perform, to | kosáta |
| pickax | kialn |
| pig | kalbasska, madóna |
| pimento | kesesmai |
| pin | besehena |
| pinnacle | kesesmai |
| pipe | kadiol |
| pistol | ka ai kuan |
| plaice | ampaj |
| plate made of tin | kesila-konan |
| plenty of | wól |
| plover | sebe |
| potato | yám |
| pound, to | kássig |
| powerful | wól |
| prairie chicken | kúdn, wólya |
| presently | acáhak |
| pretty | hamála |
| produce, to | káhawan |
| push, to | dán |
| quick, to come | xankéye |
| rain | wí-asn |
| read, to | gwá |
| red | tamóyika |
| return, to | gás |
| round | lá-akum |
| run, to | xankéye, tólos |
| saber | teheye |
| sail | a-lams |
| salt | dem, ketac |
| sand | kohon |
| satisfaction, expression of | baa |
| say, to | kaúpn |
| scat! | ăhămmic |
| see, to | tcá |
| serpent | aúd |
| seven | haíkia, nā́tsa |
| sew, to | teksilea |
| sexual organs, male | em-ibak |
| she | tál |
| ship | awā́n, elucun |
| shirt | gusgáma |
| shoe | kameplan |
| shoot, to | ódn |
| shoulder | em-sehota |
| sick | a-eas, kwátco |
| side to side, to pass from | lon |
| sit, to | háka |
| sit down! | háka |
| six | haíkia, háyo |
| skin of deer | kesul |
| skip, to | éṃ |
| sleep, to | ĭṃ, neianana |
| small | kwā́n |
| smoke | ánawan |
| snake | aúd |
| soon | messús |
| Spaniards | kahamkeami |
| speak, to | gaxiamétĕt, kaúpn |
| stag | tekomandotsen |
| stand, to | yétso |
| stomach | a-luk |
| strike, to | gá-an |
| strong | wól |
| suck, to | énno |
| sugar | téskaus |
| sun | klos, dóowal |
| sweet | téskaus |
| swim, to | nótawa |
| talk, to | kaúpn |
| tall | yá-an |
| tar | kuja |
| tattooings | bacenana |
| tear, to | táhama |
| teat | kanín |
| tell, to | kaúpn |
| ten | hábe |
| textile | kwíss |
| that | tál |
| there | nyá |
| thigh | em-edal |
| thine | áwa |
| this | tál |
| thou | áwa |
| three | kaxáyi |
| thy | áwa |
| tired | kwá-al |
| tobacco | a-kanan, káhe, dé |
| tongue | a-lean |
| Tonkawa Indian | Tcankáya |
| too | ténno |
| tooth | dolonakin, é |
| tooth-brush | tesselénia |
| touch, to | tcaútawal |
| tree | akwiní |
| turtle, a large green | haítnlokn |
| two | haíkia |
| understand, to | kúmna |
| useful | plá |
| vermilion | kadüm |
| vessel | awā́n, elucun |
| walk, to | shak, yé |
| wall | kesul |
| want, to | tá |
| water | klai, komkom |
| water-hen | uapa |
| weep, to | owíya |
| well | klabán |
| where? | mudá |
| whiskey | labá-i |
| whistle, to | áksōl |
| white | péka |
| wicked | tcúta |
| wide | yá-an |
| will | tcápn |
| wind | bá, eta |
| wine | klebö |
| wish, to | tá |
| wolf | kec |
| woman, a | acade |
| wood | kesul |
| work, to | takína |
| yes | ihié-ă |
| yesterday | tuwámka |
| yonder | nyá |
| you | áwa |
| young of an animal | kwā́n |
| youngster | níktam |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{sister project |project=wiktionary |text=Wiktionary has a word list at Appendix:Karankawa word list}}
{{North American languages}}
Category:Extinct languages of North America
Category:Indigenous languages of the North American Plains
Category:Indigenous languages of Texas