4 1999, Stross 1985. However, Wichmann 1995, who has done extensive studies in proto-Mixe-Zoque,
does not believe there is sufficient evidence to state that the Mixe-Zoque languages are of Olmec origin. Surveys of Mesoamerican languages, such as done by Suárez 1983 and Yasugi 1995, have
compiled much phonological and grammatical data about these languages from available published sources. Yasugi 1995:65–75 includes a section on comparing Middle American
3
phonological systems with linguistic universal statements and also a chapter on the word-order typology of these languages.
Unfortunately, these surveys give only an incomplete picture of the phonology of the languages, since they are based on phoneme charts and linear representations and fail to include crucial non-linear features such
as the palatalization and laryngealization features in Mixe as described by Hoogshagen 1984:4 and Van Haitsma [Dieterman] and Van Haitsma 1976:5–11. Not only in the Mixe languages are these features
important, but as Silverman 1997:236 points out, contrastive laryngeally-complex vowels are “attested throughout the Otomanguean language group,” a large family of languages in Mesoamerica. Because the
surveys use simplified listings of the phonemic segments of the languages, they can only convey partial information and, thus, they lack important data for cross-linguistic comparisons.
1.4.1 Mixe-Zoque surveys
Wichmann 1995 has proposed a detailed classification of Mixe-Zoque languages. Among the languages of the Zoque branch are three languages and fourteen dialects, which include a place name, followed by the
word Zoque as the designation of the language or dialect. These Zoque languages are spoken in southern Mexico in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Tabasco. However, there are two Popoluca
4
languages that are also considered to be part of the Zoque branch, namely Sierra Popoluca also known as Soteapan
Zoque and Texistepec Popoluca also known as Texistepec Zoque. There are also two Popoluca languages that are considered to be part of the Mixe branch, Sayula Popoluca and Oluta Popoluca Nordell
1962. The four Popoluca languages are spoken in Veracruz.
In the Oaxacan Mixe category, Wichmann lists four languages and among them seventeen dialects. Also included in the Mixe branch is the language Tapachulteco,
5
which, along with the two Popoluca languages, makes a total of seven Mixe languages. Wichmann’s classification differs somewhat from
earlier ones; for example, regarding the status of Tapachulteco, which Elson 1992:578 and Wonderly 1949 place with the Zoque languages, and also Wichmann includes data from more languages and
dialects than the previous classifications.
The language family tree shown in figure 1.2 is taken from Wichmann 1995:10, based on his proposed reconstructions of proto-languages in the Mixe-Zoque language family. Isthmus Mixe is one of
the Lowland Mixe languages,
6
called Guichicovi by Wichmann, from the name of the major city in this Mixe region, San Juan Guichicovi.
3
Yasugi uses the term “Middle America” to include some languages north and south of the Mesoamerican region.
4
There are Otomanguean languages called Popoloca, sometimes confused with Popoluca because of the similarity in spelling.
5
Tapachulteco was spoken in Chiapas, but is now extinct.
6
Wichmann 1995 uses the term dialect, not language. Isthmus Mixe is listed as one of the Mixe-Zoque languages in Gordon’s Ethnologue 2005:265.
5
Figure 1.2. The evolution of the Mixe-Zoquean languages Wichmann 1995:10
1.5 Isthmus Mixe typology
