The two Lule–Vilela languages constitute a small, extinct, distantly related language family of northern Argentina. Kaufman found the relationship likely and with general agreement among the major classifiers of South American languages. Viegas Barros published additional evidence from 1996 to 2006. However, Zamponi (2008) considers Lule and Vilela each as language isolates, with similarities being due to contact.Zamponi, Raoul. 2008. Sulla fonologia e la rappresentazione ortografica del lule. Arte y vocabulario de la lengua Lule y Tonocoté, ed. by Antonio Maccioni, xxi–lviii. Cagliari: Centro di Studi Filogici Sardi.
Internal classification Internal classification of the Lule–Vilela languages by Mason (1950):
Lule–Vilela Lule Great Lule (of Miraflores, of Machoni) Small Lule Isistiné Tokistiné Oristiné Vilela Atalalá Chunupí (Sinipé, Chulupí) Yooc (Yoo, Wamalca) Ocolé Yecoanita Pasain (Pazaine) Omoampa (Umuapa) Vacaa Vilela Ipa Takete Yoconoampa (Yecunampa) Wamalca (Malbalá ?)
Unclassfied languages are Tonocoté, Matará, and Guacará.
Proto-language
For reconstructions of Proto-Lule-Vilela by Viegas Barros (2006),Viegas Barros, J. Pedro (2006). Proto-Lule-Vilela: Una Reconstrucción Fonológica Preliminar. Comisión “Lenguas Chaqueñas” del 52 Congreso Internacional de Americanistas. Sevilla (España): Universidad de Sevilla. 17-21 de julio de 2006. see the corresponding Spanish article.
References
External links Alain Fabre. 2005. Diccionario etnolingüístico y guía bibliográfica de los pueblos indígenas sudamericanos. 'Lule–Vilela'