Camsá language
Indigenous language of the Kamëntsá people of Colombia
Camsá (Kamsá, Kamse), also referred to as Mocoa, Sibundoy, Coche, and natively as Kamëntsá (Kamemtxa, Camëntsëá), is a language isolate and native language of the Camsá people who primarily inhabit the Sibundoy Valley of the Putumayo Department in the south of Colombia .
Classification
Camsá appears to be a language isolate . Researchers have tried connecting it to the Chibchan languages without success. Fabre reports that the Camsá are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga , whose language is unattested.
Language contact
Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Choco languages due to contact.
Varieties
Mason lists the following names as Coche (Mocoa) varieties.
Sebondoy
Quillacinga
Patoco
Phonology
Consonants
This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(November 2019 )
^ a b c d e Only in loanwords
Howard and O'Brien call the retroflex phonemes in the above table retroflex , while Huber & Reed use the alveolo-palatal symbols. More specifically, Howard uses ⟨tṣ⟩ and ⟨ṣ⟩ , O'Brien uses ⟨tʂ⟩ and ⟨ʂ⟩ , and Huber & Reed use ⟨tɕ⟩ and ⟨ɕ⟩ .
Vowels
Huber & Reed, Howard, and O'Brien all analyze six vowel phonemes in Camsá: /a / , /e / , /i / , /o / , /u / , and /ɨ / . O'Brien notes that /ɨ/ has a limited distribution and is rarely found at the beginnings of words, and that [i ] in many cases may be an allophone of /e / before palatal consonants. Howard found that /i / and /e / fluctuate in some morphemes, as do /u / and /o / .
Grammar
This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(November 2019 )
Camsá is a polysynthetic language with prefixes and suffixes. It also has dual number, which is unusual for languages around it.
Vocabulary
Huber & Reed's book provides a comparison between 68 indigenous languages of Colombia. The following table provides the order of words in the book, along with glosses in English and Spanish. The Camsá words follow their orthography, i.e., using ⟨tɕ⟩ and ⟨ɕ⟩ instead of ⟨ʈʂ⟩ and ⟨ʂ⟩ .
no.
English gloss
Spanish gloss
Camsá
notes
001
tongue
lengua
bitʃtá-xa
002
mouth
boca
wajá-ɕa
003
lip
labio
wajatsebiá-ɕa
004
tooth
diente
xuatsá-ɕe
005
nose
nariz
tsxá-ɕe
006
eye
ojo
bɕnɨ-bé
007
ear
oreja
matskuá-ɕe
008
head
cabeza
bestɕá-ɕe, betɕá-ɕe
009
forehead
frente
xuentsɨɕá-ɕe
010
hair
cabello
stxɨnɨ́-xa
011
chin
mentón
kumbambɨ́-ɕa
012
beard
barba
wangɨtsboboʃɨ́-xua
013
neck
cuello
tamoɕá-xa
014
chest
pecho
kotʃá-xa
015
woman’s breast
teta, seno, pechos
tʃótʃo
016
abdomen
vientre, abdomen
wabsbiá
017
back
espalda
stɨtɕá-xa
018
shoulder
hombro
tantɕá-xa
019
arm
brazo
buakuá-tɕe
021
elbow
codo
ʃɨmia-bé
022
hand
mano
kukuá-tɕe
023
finger
dedo de la mano
ntɕabuá-bxa
024
fingernail
una
ngétsebia-ɕe
025
leg
pierna
mɨntxá-xa
027
knee
rodilla
ntsamiá-ɕe
028
shin
espinilla
ɕɨbxá-xa
029
foot
pie
ʃekuá-tɕe
030
toe
dedo del pie
xɨntɕá-bxa
031
skin
piel
bobátʃe
032
bone
hueso
betá-ɕe, betá-bxa
033
blood
sangre
buíɲe
034
heart
corazón
ainána
035
lungs
pulmones
béxnatse
036
penis
pene
lótɕe
037
vulva
vulva
salápo
038
man
hombre
entɕá (jentɕá)
039
male
varón
bojabása
040
woman
mujer
ʃembása
041
people
gente
entɕánga
042
husband
marido, esposo
bojá
043
wife
marida, esposa
ʃéma
044
father
padre
taitá, bébta
045
mother
madre
mamá, bebmá, máma
046
baby, infant
criatura
ɕeɕóna, (ɕoɕóna)
047
old man
viejo
bɨtsanań
048
water
agua
bújeʃe, béxa-je
049
river
río
béxa-ke, bʃáxa-je
051
lake
lago
wabxaxóna-je
052
swamp
pantano
xatɨʃáɲe
053
spring of water
fuente, ojo de agua
obaxtʃkaníɲe
054
waterfall
caída de agua
buatʃkɨkxaníɲe
055
rapids
catarata, raudal
bʃawenaníɲe
056
flame, fire
candela, fuego
íɲe, níɲe
057
ash
ceniza
xatinjá
058
charcoal
carbón
enaxomá-ɕe
059
smoke
humo
ngóna
060
firewood
leña
niɲá
061
sky
cíelo
sel-óka
Spanish loanword
062
rain
lluvia
wabténa
063
wind
viento
bínjia
064
sun
sol
ʃínje
065
moon
luna
xuaʃkóna
066
star
estrella
estrelja-téma
Spanish loanword
067
day
día
bɨnɨ-té, té
068
night
noche
ibéta
069
thunder
trueno
waxuesajá
070
lightning
relámpago
tkuínje
071
rainbow
arco iris
tsɨbkuákuatxo
072
earth, soil
tierra
bʃántse
073
stone
piedra
ndɨtɕ-bé
074
sand
arena
kaskáxo
Spanish loanword
075
house
casa
jébna
076
roof
techo
thɨxnaɲe, bonxanána
077
door
puerta
bɨɕá-ɕe
078
seat, stool
banco
tɕenɨ́-ɕe
079
mat
estera
txuá-ʃe
080
hammock
hamaca
uxonjanɨ́-ʃa
081
bed
catre, cama de barbacoa
xutsnɨ́-ʃa
082
cooking pot
olla
matbá-xa
083
cultivated clearing
roza, sementera
xaxáɲe
084
village
caserío
pueblo-téma
Spanish loanword
085
path, trail
camino, sendero, trocha
benátʃe
086
fish net
red
ataʒajɨ́-ʃa
Spanish loanword
087
fish hook
anzuelo
ansuelɨ-bxuá
Spanish loanword
088
axe
hacha
tatɕnía
Spanish loanword
089
knife
cuchillo
kutʃiljɨ-bxa
Spanish loanword
090
canoe
canoa
kanoú-ɕe
091
paddle
remo
ʒem-bé
Spanish loanword
092
club
porra, macana
ngarot-bé
Spanish loanword
093
spear
lanza
lantsɨ́-ʃa
Spanish loanword
094
bow
arco de cazar
arkú-bxa
Spanish loanword
095
arrow
flecha
pletʃɨ-bxuá
Spanish loanword
096
blowgun
cerbatana
. xuesanɨ-ɕa
097
tapir
danta
bɨtsijá
098
jaguar
tigre
tígre
Spanish loanword
099
puma
león, puma
león
Spanish loanword
100
armadillo
armadillo
armadiljo-bé
101
dog
perro
kéɕe
102
deer
venado
biángana, móngoxo
103
bat
murciélago
tʃimbiláko
104
otter
nutria
salado-bé
105
cebus monkey (Cebus capucinus )
capuchin, machín
komendéro
Spanish loanword
110
spotted cavy
paca , guagua
mɨmaɕe
113
tortoise
tortuga
tortúga-ɕe
Spanish loanword
115
collared peccary
saíno
saín kótɕe
Spanish loanword
117
agouti
agutí
entsóje-ɕe
118
rat
rata
ʒáta-tɕe
Spanish loanword
119
cat
gato
meséto
120
mouse
ratón
ʃiéna
121
tail
cola
waskuatɕi-xuá
122
snake
serpiente, culebra
mɨtɕkuáje
123
anaconda, water boa
mapana
amarón
126
toad
sapo
sápo
Spanish loanword
127
bird
pájaro
ʃlóbtɕe
128
hummingbird
picaflor, colibrí
ngɨntsiána
130
toucan
tucán
pikúdo
131
parrot
loro
ʃatúo, ʃatú
133
buzzard
gallinazo
ngaljináso
Spanish loanword
134
curassow
pavo
tʃúmbo
135
owl
lechuza, buho
koskúngo
136
guan
pava de monte
kukuána
137
hen
gallina
tuámba
138
fish
pescado
beóna
140
bee
abeja
txowána
141
fly
mosca
ʃatsɨbiána
142
flea
pulga
nzantsána
143
louse
piojo
mɨtsána
144
mosquito
zancudo
ʃɨngna-bxa
146
ant
hormiga
xuána
147
spider
arana
báxna, batʃná-ɕe
148
jigger flea
nigua, pigue
tsɨtxóna
149
bush, jungle
monte
txá-ɲe
150
open grassland
pajonal, sabana
xatʃáɲe
151
hill
cerro, loma
batsxáɲe
152
tree
árbol
betíje, betijé-ʃe
153
leaf
hoja
tsbuaná-tʃe
154
tree leaf
hoja de árbol
tsbuaná-tʃe
155
flower
flor
wantɕebxú-ʃa
156
fruit
fruta
ʃaxuan-bé
158
root
raíz
tbɨtɨ́-xa
159
seed
semilla
xénaje
160
stick
palo
niɲɨ́-ɕe
161
grass
hierba
ʃákuana
162
corn, maize
maíz
mátse
163
manioc
yuca
bʃendɨ́-ɕe
165
tobacco
tabaco
tbáko
Spanish loanword
166
cotton
algodón
tongéntse-ʃe
167
gourd
calabazo poro
taus-bé
168
yam
ñame
tʃaná
169
sweet potato
camote
mijá
170
achiote
achiote, bija
mandorɨ́-ʃa
171
chili pepper
ají
tsɨtɕá
173
Banisterium , hallucinogenic vine
ayahuasca, jajé
biaxíje
174
plantain
plátano
blandɨ́-tɕa
Spanish loanword
178
cane
caña brava
ɕɨ́-ɕe
179
salt
sal
tamó
180
chicha
chicha, masato
bóko-ye
181
one
uno
kánje
182
two
dos
úta
183
three
tres
únga
184
four
cuatro
kánta
185
five
cinco
ʃátʃna
190
ten
diez
bnɨ́tsan
191
first
primero
natsána
192
last
último
ústonoje
193
rattle
sonajero, maraca
marakɨ́-ʃe
Spanish loanword
194
drum
tambor
ɕɨnxana-bé
195
cushma
cushma
ʃabuanguanɨ-xuá
196
ear ornament
orejera, arete
wamatsaxonjanɨ́-ʃa
197
mask
máscara
xobɨ́tsanɨ-ɕe
198
healer, shaman
curandero
tatɕmbuá, jobá
199
chief
cacique, curaca, capitán
utabná, mandádo
Spanish loanword
200
I, me, my
yo, mí usted
átɕe
201
you (singular)
usted
áka
202
he
él
tʃá
203
she
ella
tʃá
204
we inclusive
nosotros inclusivo
bɨ́nga
206
you plural
ustedes
tɕingabtánga
207
they
ellos
tʃɨ́nga
208
my hand
mi mano
átɕ-be kukuá-tɕe
209
your (sg.) hand
tu mano
ák-be kukuá-tɕe
210
his hand
su mano
tʃá-be kukuá-tɕe
211
our hands
nuestras manos
bɨng-be kukuá-tɕe
213
their hands
sus manos (de ellos)
tʃɨ́ng-be kukuátɕe
214
my bow
mi arco
átɕ-be arkú-bxa
Spanish loanword
215
your bow
tu arco
ák-be arkú-bxa
216
his bow
su arco (de él)
tsá-be arkú-bxa
217
our bow
nuestro arco
bɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa
219
their bow
su arco (de ellos)
tʃɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa
220
big
grande
bɨ́ts
221
small, little
pequeño
báse, bíntʃe
222
cold
frío
ʃék-bana
223
hot
caliente
ntɕníɲe
224
good
bueno
tɕábe, tɕabá
225
bad
malo
baká, bákna sóje
226
white
blanco
bxántse
227
black
negro
btsénga
228
go!
vaya, ve!
m-ó-tsa
229
come!
ven!
m-á-bo
230
eat!
come!
m-ó-se
231
drink!
bebe!
m-o-bɕé
232
sleep!
duerme!
m-o-tsámana
233
crown of head
corona
tʃinʃ-óka
234
front teeth, incisors
dientes delanteros incisivos
btɨɕá-ɕe
236
long hair
pelo largo
bɨ́n stxɨná-ʃe
237
the neck region
garganta y cuello
bexɨ́ngua-xa
238
Adam’s apple
nuez de la garganta
tamoɕtxon-bé
239
upper back
espalda, parte superior
stɨtɕá-xa
241
wrist
muñeca
ʃɨmia-bé
242
lower leg
pierna inferior
ɕɨbxá-tɕe
243
body hair
el pelo del cuerpo
bobo-ʃɨ́-xa
244
stomach
estómago
wabsbiá
245
intestines
intestinos
tʃuntʃuljɨ-xua-ngá
246
old woman
viejita
wela-xéma
247
clouds at rest
nubes quietas
xantɕetɨ́-ʃe
249
cultivated clearing
roza, sementera de maíz
taɕxá-ɲe
250
stream
quebrada
báse béxa-je
251
pebbles
piedrecillas
ndɨtɕmé-ʃe
252
huge rocks
rocas grandes
peɲí-ɕe
Spanish loanword
253
path, trail
camino, sendero, trocha
axʃatʃnɨxní-ɲe
255
shelter
rancho
tambo-téma
256
this
este
kém
257
that
eso, ese, aquel
tʃɨ́
258
who
quién
ndá, ndmuá
259
what
que
ndajá
260
not
no
ndóɲe
261
all
todos
njćtska
262
many
muchos
bɨtská, bá, bá-nga
263
long
largo
bɨ́n
264
bark
corteza
xubobá-ʃe
265
flesh
carne
mɨntɕéna
267
grease, animal fat
grasa
minjiká
Spanish loanword
268
egg
huevo
ʃɨmnɨ-bé
269
horn
cuerno
tsɨtxoní-ɕe
270
feather
pluma
plumɨ-bxuá
Spanish loanword
271
elaw, nail
uña, garra
ngétsebia-ɕe
272
belly
barriga
wabsbiá
273
liver
hígado
bekotʃká
274
drink
beber
xatmuána, xobɕiána
275
eat
comer
xasána
276
bite
morder
xaxantsána
277
see
ver
xinjána
278
hear
oir
xowenána
279
know
saber
xtsetatɕmbuána
280
sleep
dormir
xómanana
281
die
morir
xóbanana
282
kill
matar
xóbana
283
swim (not bathe)
nadar
xatʃbabána
284
fly
volar
xongébxuana
285
walk
andar
xtsanána
286
come
venir
xabána
287
lie down
acostarse
xtsexáxonana
288
sit down
sentarse
xotbemána
289
stand
ponerse en pie, de pie
xotsajána
290
give
dar
xatɕetajána
291
say
decir
xajanána
292
burn
quemar, arder
xtsejiɲána
293
mountain
montaña
xáɲe
294
red
rojo
buángana
295
green
verde
ngɨ́bʃna
296
yellow
amarillo
tsɨɕijána
297
full
lleno
xútxena
298
new
nuevo
tsɨ́m
299
round
redondo
-bé
300
dry
seco
boxóxo, buaʃána
301
name
nombre
wabáina
302
how
cómo
ntɕámo
303
when
cuándo
ntséko, ntséko ora
304
where
donde
ndm-óka, ndaj-éntɕe
305
here
aquí
mu-éntɕe
306
there
allí
tʃ-éntɕe
307
other
otro
ínje, injá
308
few
poco
batɕá, básebta
309
fog
neblina
xantɕetɨ́-ʃe
310
flow
fluir
xtsobuána
311
sea
mar
már béxa-je
312
wet
mojado
btʃékuana
313
wash
lavar
xáxabiana
314
worm
gusano
tsɨkɨmiána
315
wing
ala
xuatɨngmiá-ʃa
316
fur
piel peluda
bobo-ʃá, bobó-ʃe
317
navel
ombligo
wamɨʃtɨtɨ́-ɕa
318
saliva
saliva
jebuá-je
319
milk
leche
létɕi-je
Spanish loanword
320
with
con
-ka, -btaka
321
in
en
-óka, -íɲe, -éntɕe
322
at
en, lugar definido
-óka
323
if
si
-se, -sna
324
ice
hielo
jélo
Spanish loanword
326
freeze
helarse
xtseʃekbána
327
child
niño
báse-tema
328
dark
oscuro
ibéta
329
cut
cortar
kutʃú-j
330
wide
ancho
tɨntɕá
331
narrow
estrecho, angosto
báse tɨntɕá
332
far
lejos
bɨn-óka
333
near
cerca
béko-ɲe
334
thick
grueso
xoʃá
335
thin
delgado
báse xoʃá
336
short
corto
béko
337
heavy
pesado
teʃut-, úta
338
dull
embotado
ndɨ-ngmɨtʃɨ́-bxa
339
sharp
afilado
bɕá-xa, ngmitʃɨ́-bxa
340
dirty
sucio
tsénga, tsengá
341
rotten
podrido
xanguána
342
smooth
liso
bɨngɨnjána
343
straight
recto
nderítʃe
344
correct
correcto
tɕabá
345
left
izquierdo
waɲikuaj-ói-ka
346
right
derecho
katʃbi-ói-ka
347
old
viejo
tángua
348
rub
frotar
xanɨtxuána
349
pull
jalar, arrastrar
xuasxanána
350
push
empujar
xatsɨntɕána
351
throw
botar, tirar
xutɕenána
352
hit
golpear
xuénanana
353
split
hender
xaʃtɨtɕána
354
pierce
punzar, chuzar
xangɨsɨtxuána
355
dig
cavar
xaxutxuána
356
tie
atar
xabátsikana
357
sew
coser
xuaxonajána
358
fall
caer
xotsatɕána
359
swell
hinchar
xabʃatʃána
360
think
pensar
xenóxuabojana
361
sing
cantar
xabérsiana
Spanish loanword
362
smell
oler
xongɨtsetɕiána
363
vomit
vomitar
xáʃkonana
364
suck
chupar
xobkuakuajána
365
blow
soplar
xangowána
366
fear
temer
xtsawatxána
367
tighten, squeeze
apretar, exprimir
xatɨbána
368
hold
sostener
xotbajána
369
down
abajo
tsɨtx-óka
370
up
arriba
tsbanán-oka
371
ripe
maduro
bótʃena
372
dust
polvo
polbɨ́-ʃe
Spanish loanword
373
alive
vivo
ainá
374
rope
cuerda
biá-xa
375
year
año
wáta
Notes
Bibliography
Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America . New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1 .
Fabre, Alain (2001). Kamsá, a poorly documented isolated language spoken in south-western Colombia (PDF) . Linguistic Perspectives on Endangered Languages. Helsinki. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-31.
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