Proto-Arawá Phonology

Phonological systems and vocabularies are compared for the five languages of the small Arawaá family, from Brazil and Peru. There is one extinct language-called Arawá-and four living languages-Kulina-Dení, Jarawara-Jamamadí-Banawá, Sorowahá, and Paumarí. After eliminating likely loans, about 460 cognate sets are established. From study of the phonetic character and distribution of sets of sound correspondences, the phonological system of Proto-Arawá is reconstructed. A number of unusual correspondence sets suggest the existence of a small substratum vocabulary within Paumarí, possibly from an Arawá group speaking a distinct language, whose members merged with the Paumarí tribe. There is no evidence for genetic relationship between the Arawá family and either Arawak or any other recognized language family.