Maxakalían languages
| Maxakalían | |
|---|---|
| Mashakalian | |
| Geographic distribution | Brazil |
| Linguistic classification | Macro-Jê
|
| Subdivisions |
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| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | maxa1246 |
Distrubution of Maxakalian languages among the Macro-Jê family | |
Map of the Maxakalian languages (excluding Koropo) | |
The Maxakalían languages (also Mashakalían) are a group of related indigenous languages of Brazil, named after Maxakalí, the one surviving language in the group. Linguists differ in the other, extinct, languages they identify as part of the group, many of which are poorly attested. The Maxakalían group is today usually considered part of the Macro-Jê language family.
Maxakalían languages were first classified into the Jê languages. It was only in 1931 that Čestmír Loukotka separated them from the Jê family. Alfred Métraux and Curt Nimuendajú considered the Maxakalían family isolated from others. John Alden Mason suggests a connection with the Macro-Jê stock, confirmed by Aryon Rodrigues.