Cacán (also Cacan, Kakán, Calchaquí, Chaka, Diaguita, and Kaka) is an
extinct language that was spoken by the
Diaguita and
Calchaquí tribes in northern
Argentina and
Chile. It became extinct during the late 17th century or early 18th century. The language was documented by the Jesuit
Alonso de Bárcena, but the manuscript is lost. Genetic affiliation of the language remains unclear, and due to the extremely limited number of known words, it has not been possible to conclusively link it to any existing
language family.[1]
Varieties
Loukotka (1968)
Varieties classified by Loukotka (1968) as part of the Diaguit language group:[2]
Diaguit - extinct language once spoken by many tribes in the Argentine
province of Catamarca. All the survivors are now Quechuanized. Dialects, all extinct:
Yocabil - once spoken in Catamarca in the Yocabil Valley.
Andalgalá - once spoken around the city of
Andalgalá, Catamarca.
Abaucan or Tinogasta - once spoken in the
Abaucán Valley, Catamarca.
Pasipa - once spoken in the Vicioso Valley, Catamarca.
Ancasti - once spoken in the Sierra de
Ancasti, Catamarca.
Hualfin - once spoken in the
Hualfin Valley, Catamarca.
Famatina - once spoken in the province of La Rioja in the
Famatina Valley.
Caringasta - once spoken
Calingasta in the
Anguco Valley, San Juan province.
Sanogasta - once spoken in the province of La Rioja in the
Sanogasta Valley.
Calian or Mocalingasta - once spoken in La Rioja province in the valley of
Guadacol.
Sanagasta - once spoken in the
Sierra de Velasco, La Rioja province.
Musitian - once spoken in La Rioja province in the Sierra de los Llanos.
Nolongasta - once spoken in the
Chilecito Valley, La Rioja province.
Calehaqui or Cacan or Tocaque - extinct language once spoken in Salta province, in the
Quimivil and Santa María Valleys. Dialects are:
Guachipa - once spoken in Salta Valley.
Tolombon or Pacioca - once spoken in the province of Tucumán in the
Tolombon Valley.
Amaicha - once spoken in the Sierra de
Aconquija, Tucumán province.
Tucumán or Tukma - once spoken around the city of
Tucumán.
Soleo - once spoken in Tucumán province north of the Tucumán tribe.
Cupayana or Capayana - extinct language once spoken in San Juan and La Rioja provinces.
Amaná - once spoken around the city of
Amaná, La Rioja province. (Unattested)
Chicoana or Pulare - once spoken in
Salta Province in the
Lerma Valley. (Unattested)
Indama or Ambargasta - once spoken north of
Salinas Grandes, Santiago del Estero province. (Unattested)
Copiapó - once spoken around the city of
Copiapó in the province of Atacama, Chile. (Unattested)
Mason (1950)
Mason (1950)[3] lists the Diaguita subgroups of Abaucan, Amaycha, Anchapa, Andalgalá, Anguinahao, Calchaquí, Casminchango, Coipe, Colalao, Famatina, Hualfina, Paquilin, Quilme, Tafí, Tocpo, Tucumán, Upingascha, and Yocabil. Acalian, Catamarca, and Tamano are possibly also Diaguita subgroups according to Mason (1950).
List of known words
Cacán vocabulary possibly exists today in toponyms and local surnames, but the etymologies are often dubious.
Other known words include:
Ao, hao, ahao — house
Gasta — town
Kakanchik (transcribed into Spanish: cacanchic) — name of a deity apparently of fertility
Titakin (transcribed to the Castilian titaquin) — lord and king