Boran (also known as Bora–Muinane, Bora–Muiname, Bóran, Miranyan, Miranya, Bórano) is a small language family, consisting of just two languages.
Languages
The two Boran languages are:
Loukotka (1968) also lists Nonuya, spoken at the sources of the Cahuinari River, as a Boran language. Only a few words were documented.
Synonymy note:
- The name Muiname has been used to refer to the Muinane language (Bora Muinane) of the Boran family and also to the Nipode language (Witoto Muinane) of the Witotoan family.
Genetic relations
Aschmann (1993) proposed that the Boran and Witotoan language families were related, in a Bora–Witoto stock. Echeverri & Seifart (2016) refute the connection.
Language contact
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Choko, Guahibo, Tukano, Witoto-Okaina, Yaruro, Arawak, and Tupi language families due to contact in the Caquetá River basin region.
An automated computational analysis (ASJP 4) by Müller et al. (2013) found lexical similarities with Arawakan (especially the Resigaro language in particular) due to contact.
Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items.
gloss |
Bora |
Imihitä |
Muinane
|
one
|
dzonére |
tenétogüné |
sánótro
|
two
|
miniékeʔe |
mibákö |
minóke
|
head
|
mée-níguoe |
mé-eníkoae |
nígai
|
eye
|
ma-ádzik |
ma-átxe |
adíge
|
tooth
|
mée-goaxé |
me-kuáxe |
ígaino
|
man
|
guáxpi |
koaxpí |
gáife
|
water
|
néspakio |
nögʔbögʔkó |
negfuáyu
|
fire
|
köxögua |
kixúgua |
köxögai
|
sun
|
nöʔögbwa |
nöxbá |
neʔegbua
|
maize
|
öxeʔe |
öxehu |
bédya
|
jaguar
|
oíbe |
ouíbe |
höku
|
Proto-language
Proto-Bora–Muinane |
Reconstruction of |
Boran languages |
Proto-Bora–Muinane reconstructions by Seifart and Echeverri (2015):
Proto-Bora–Muinane reconstructions by Seifart and Echeverri (2015)
|
no. |
gloss |
Proto-Bora-Muinane
|
1 |
tongue |
*nehe
|
2 |
mouth |
*i-hɨ
|
3 |
lip |
*hɨni-ba
|
4 |
tooth |
*iʔgai
|
5 |
nose |
*tɨhɨ-ʔu
|
6 |
eye |
*aʤɨ-ɨ
|
7 |
ear |
*nɨ()-meeʔu
|
8 |
head |
*niga-ɨ
|
9 |
forehead |
*ɨme-ku
|
10 |
hair |
*-hee-
|
12 |
beard |
*hɨkk()
|
14 |
chest |
*ppeeɨ-he
|
15 |
woman's breast |
*mɨppaino
|
16 |
abdomen |
*iiʔba
|
18 |
shoulder |
*hɨhe-ba
|
19 |
arm |
*nokkɨ-gai
|
21 |
elbow |
*()o()i
|
22 |
hand |
*ʔutʦe
|
23 |
finger |
*ʔutʦe-gai
|
24 |
fingernail |
*ʔutʦe-gai-meeʔu
|
27 |
knee |
*memu
|
29 |
foot |
*ttɨʔaai
|
30 |
toe |
*ttɨ-gaai
|
31 |
skin |
*meeʔo
|
32 |
bone |
*bakkɨ
|
33 |
blood |
*tɨɨ
|
34 |
heart |
*heebɨ-ɨ
|
35 |
lungs |
*βaβa-ga
|
38 |
man |
*m()a-mɨnaa-ppi
|
39 |
man |
*gai-ppi
|
40 |
woman |
*gai-go
|
41 |
people |
*m()a-mɨnaa
|
42 |
husband |
*tahe
|
43 |
wife |
*taaba
|
44 |
father |
*giʔiru, kaani
|
45 |
mother |
*gaʔa-ro, *ʦeehɨ
|
46 |
baby, infant |
*ʦeemono
|
47 |
old man |
*amia
|
48 |
water |
*nɨ-ppai()u
|
49 |
river |
*too-ʔi, *muuai
|
52 |
swamp |
*kaaha
|
56 |
fire |
*kɨɨhɨ-gai
|
57 |
ash |
*bai-giihɨ
|
58 |
charcoal |
*kɨɨhɨgai-
|
60 |
firewood |
*kuu
|
61 |
sky |
*nikko-he
|
62 |
rain |
*niiha-ba
|
64 |
sun |
*nɨʔba
|
65 |
moon |
*nɨʔba
|
66 |
star |
*meekɨrɨ-gai
|
67 |
day |
*kuuhe
|
68 |
night |
*pokku
|
69 |
thunder |
*ʦitʦi
|
71 |
rainbow |
*tɨɨ-ʔi
|
72 |
earth |
*hiinɨ-he
|
74 |
sand |
*n()gai-jɨʔai
|
75 |
house |
*ha
|
77 |
doorway |
*gooʔu-ga
|
78 |
seat, stool |
*ikka-ga
|
79 |
mat |
*kɨga-
|
80 |
hammock |
*gaaiba
|
81 |
bed |
*kɨga-
|
82 |
cooking pot |
*giri-ʔʤu
|
83 |
cultivated clearing |
*gaikkuʔai
|
84 |
village |
*kuumii
|
85 |
path, trail |
*hɨɨ-
|
86 |
fish net |
*ʦ()nɨkuʔu
|
87 |
fish hook |
*piikkɨ-gai
|
88 |
steel axe |
*hɨgaa-he
|
89 |
knife |
*n()ʦ()-ga-
|
90 |
canoe |
*meeno
|
91 |
paddle |
*buʔdu-ga
|
92 |
club |
*gai-ʔuɨ
|
93 |
spear |
*aamɨ-
|
94 |
bow |
*tɨɨbu-ga
|
95 |
arrow |
*tɨɨbu-
|
96 |
blowgun |
*gitʦɨ-hɨ
|
99 |
puma |
*tɨpai-ʔuu()
|
100 |
armadillo |
*gooɨ
|
101 |
dog |
*ʔuuʔi
|
102 |
red deer |
*niiβɨ-gai
|
103 |
bat |
*kikiih()
|
104 |
otter |
*ʦukku
|
105 |
cebus, monkey |
*kɨʔʤiba
|
107 |
spider monkey |
*kɨɨmɨ
|
109 |
anteater |
*heehɨ, *tuuʔhe
|
110 |
paca |
*takkɨ
|
111 |
crocodile |
*niʔba, *m()ʔduba
|
112 |
iguana |
*maaina-ʔu
|
115 |
collared peccary |
*mooni
|
116 |
white-lipped peccary |
*paapaiba
|
117 |
agouti |
*pattɨ
|
118 |
rat |
*giʔpo
|
119 |
cat |
*miiʧii
|
120 |
mouse |
*giʔpo
|
121 |
tail |
*bu
|
122 |
snake |
*hiinimo
|
123 |
anaconda, water boa
|
*buua, *iigai-
|
124 |
rattlesnake |
*taakaʔo
|
125 |
coral snake |
*ʧiraagai
|
126 |
toad |
*hakuga, ()ɨɨriʔi, nihaga, mɨɨʔmeba, haakkɨba
|
128 |
hummingbird |
*paaibe
|
129 |
macaw |
*heeβaa, *in()ʔai
|
130 |
toucan |
*nɨgo
|
133 |
buzzard |
*ainɨ
|
134 |
curassow |
*kɨga-
|
136 |
guan |
*peeka-he
|
137 |
hen |
*ka()a()a
|
139 |
piranha |
*gaikku-he, *nitta
|
142 |
flea |
*hɨɨku-ga
|
143 |
louse |
*gaaini-ʔu
|
144 |
mosquito |
*gaaihɨ
|
145 |
termite |
*maʔarɨ
|
146 |
ant |
*piimo
|
147 |
spider |
*paaga-
|
148 |
jigger (Tunga penetrans) |
*niipahe
|
149 |
bush |
*bahɨ
|
150 |
open grassland |
*namettɨhe, *ʦukkum()he
|
151 |
hill |
*gahɨɨ, *baaɨɨ
|
152 |
tree |
*ɨmo-ʔo
|
153 |
leaf |
*aame
|
154 |
tree leaf |
*-ʔaame
|
158 |
root |
*ba(i)(k)ko-
|
159 |
seed |
*batʦu-
|
160 |
stick |
ɨmoo-ʔi
|
161 |
grass |
*ʦukkume-he
|
163 |
cassava (bread) |
*máaʔu
|
165 |
tobacco |
*baino
|
166 |
cotton |
*haʔdi
|
167 |
gourd |
*duutu
|
168 |
yam |
*kɨnii-
|
170 |
annatto |
*nooba-ba
|
171 |
chili pepper |
*dee-ʔuɨ
|
172 |
coca |
*hiibii-
|
173 |
banisterium
|
*bakko
|
174 |
plantain |
*ɨhe-
|
175 |
chonta palm |
*moomo
|
179 |
salt |
*ɨmo
|
180 |
chicha (of peach palm fruits) |
*moomo-ba
|
181 |
one |
*ʦaa-no
|
182 |
two |
*mi-no-kɨ
|
185 |
five |
*sa-ʔutʦe
|
191 |
first |
*ttɨkkonɨ
|
192 |
last |
*niiʔnoo-
|
194 |
drum |
*kɨɨmɨ-ba
|
196 |
ear ornament |
*nɨhɨ-ga
|
197 |
mask |
*maaʔnii
|
198 |
medicine man |
*taabu-mɨnaa-ppi
|
199 |
chief |
*aiβohɨɨ-bo
|
200 |
I |
*uu
|
201 |
thou |
*ɨɨ
|
202 |
he |
*aanɨɨ, *dii-bo
|
203 |
she |
*aaimoo, *dii-go
|
204 |
it |
*haa-no
|
205 |
we |
*mɨɨʔai
|
206 |
ye |
*amɨɨai
|
207 |
they |
*dii-to
|
208 |
my hand |
*tai-ʔutʦe
|
209 |
thy hand |
*dii-ʔutʦe
|
210 |
his hand |
*dii-bo-ʔutʦe
|
211 |
our hands |
*mo-ʔutʦe-no
|
212 |
your hands |
*amɨɨʔai ʔutʦe-no
|
213 |
their hands |
*diito ʔutʦe-no
|
214 |
my bow |
*tai-tɨɨbu-ga
|
215 |
thy bow |
*dii-tɨɨbu-ga
|
216 |
his bow |
*dii-bo tɨɨbu-ga
|
217 |
our bow |
*mo-tɨɨbu-ga
|
218 |
your bow |
*amɨɨʔai tɨɨbu-ga
|
219 |
their bow |
*dii-to tɨɨbu-ga
|
220 |
big |
*mita-no, *giraa
|
221 |
small |
*nume-
|
222 |
cold |
*ʦɨɨku
|
223 |
hot |
*aiguukku
|
224 |
good |
*imi
|
225 |
bad |
*imi-tɨ-no
|
226 |
white |
*ʦeʦee
|
227 |
black |
*kɨβo-
|
228 |
go! |
*di-po
|
229 |
come! |
*di-ʦaa
|
230 |
eat! |
*matʧu
|
231 |
drink! |
*d-aduu
|
232 |
sleep! |
*kɨga
|
234 |
front teeth, incisors |
*iiʔgai-noo
|
235 |
tip of tongue |
*nehe-()-nih()kk()
|
236 |
long hair |
*niiga
|
240 |
lower arm |
*nokkɨ-
|
241 |
wrist |
*ʔutʦe-kkohe
|
242 |
lower leg |
*takki-
|
243 |
body hair |
*iʔhee-no
|
244 |
stomach |
*iiʔba
|
245 |
intestines |
*iiʔba
|
246 |
old woman |
*koomo-go
|
249 |
corn field |
*gaikkuʔai, *-pagi
|
250 |
stream |
*too-ʔi
|
251 |
pebbles |
*n()gai-ɨʔai
|
253 |
path |
*hɨɨ()ai
|
255 |
shelter |
*nɨɨh()-ga
|
256 |
this |
*hi-
|
257 |
that |
*hoʔ-
|
258 |
who |
*mɨ-, *ka-
|
260 |
not |
*ʦaʔa, *-tɨ
|
261 |
all |
*pa-no
|
262 |
many |
*mita-
|
263 |
long |
*kaamo-
|
264 |
bark |
*-meeʔu
|
265 |
flesh |
*ʔookuu, *duu
|
266 |
blood |
*tɨɨ-
|
267 |
grease |
*dɨɨrɨ-ba
|
268 |
egg |
*iiʔɨ
|
269 |
horn |
*-ttu
|
270 |
feather |
*i-hee-no
|
271 |
claw |
*ʔutʦe-gai-meeʔu
|
272 |
belly |
*iiʔba
|
273 |
liver |
*iʔganoo
|
274 |
drink |
*adu
|
275 |
eat (non meat) |
*matʧu
|
276 |
bite |
*eeʔdu-
|
277 |
see |
*aittɨme
|
278 |
hear |
*goobu-
|
279 |
know |
*gaaha
|
280 |
sleep |
*kɨga
|
281 |
die |
*gihe-βo
|
282 |
kill |
*gɨhe-βo-ʦu
|
283 |
swim |
*itʦi
|
284 |
fly |
*gaʔpo
|
285 |
walk |
*ɨgo, *poo
|
286 |
come |
*ʦaa-
|
290 |
give |
*akkɨ
|
291 |
say |
*hɨɨb()go, *noo
|
293 |
mountain |
*gahɨɨ, *baaɨɨ
|
294 |
red |
*tɨ-ppai-no
|
295 |
green |
*aittɨβa
|
296 |
yellow |
*gi()
|
297 |
full |
*gaʔpo
|
298 |
new |
*boʔ-no
|
301 |
name |
*momo
|
302 |
how |
*mɨʔ()ɨ
|
305 |
here |
*hi-noo-ri
|
306 |
there |
*oo-no
|
307 |
other |
*ʦi-ppi
|
309 |
fog |
*tʦu-
|
310 |
flow |
*niiβa
|
311 |
sea |
*muuai
|
312 |
wet |
*peepai-no, *maa-
|
313 |
wash |
*nittɨ-
|
314 |
worm |
*hɨʔba
|
316 |
fur |
*iʔhe-
|
318 |
saliva |
*hɨɨ-
|
319 |
milk |
*mɨppaino-ppai()u
|
320 |
with |
*-ma
|
321 |
in |
*paino
|
322 |
at |
*-βɨ
|
323 |
if |
*-ʔatʧiihɨ
|
327 |
child |
*ʦee-mo-no
|
328 |
dark |
*kɨβo-
|
330 |
wide |
*kare-
|
331 |
narrow |
*iihe
|
334 |
thick |
*peeme
|
335 |
thin |
*ɨtʦi-, aini-
|
336 |
short |
*baaʔr()-no
|
338 |
dull |
*ʦɨɨʔhe-βa-tɨ-no
|
339 |
sharp |
*ʦɨɨhe-βa
|
340 |
dirty |
*hiinɨ-βa-, beeβa-
|
341 |
rotten |
*tuukɨ-
|
342 |
smooth |
*p()rɨɨkɨ-, *mooβa-
|
343 |
straight |
*ʦa-tɨkko-βo
|
344 |
correct |
*m()aa-
|
345 |
left |
*nani-
|
346 |
right |
*()m()a-
|
347 |
old |
*ʦɨk()-, *koomo-
|
349 |
pull |
*giiɨkɨ
|
351 |
throw |
*piku
|
352 |
hit |
*iʤaaju
|
353 |
split |
*ga()er()-
|
354 |
pierce |
*kapaitɨ-ɨ()ɨ-nɨ
|
355 |
dig |
*ʦooʔdi
|
356 |
tie |
*ʦitʦɨ, *duʔhe-nɨ
|
358 |
fall |
*aak()()o-
|
359 |
swell |
*huuri-
|
360 |
think |
*etʦam()i-
|
361 |
sing |
*matʦi-βa
|
362 |
smell |
*hɨgikk(), *utʦu
|
365 |
blow |
*ebaʦu-, buuʦu-
|
366 |
fear |
*igi
|
367 |
squeeze |
*aamɨ-ʦu
|
368 |
hold |
*ikka
|
369 |
down |
*giino, baa-ri
|
370 |
up |
*kamo
|
371 |
ripe |
*naamo-
|
372 |
dust |
*-giihɨ
|
373 |
alive |
*buʔee-
|
374 |
rope |
*gaaiba-ɨ
|
375 |
year |
*pi(k)kaba
|
378 |
diminutive |
*-g()ɨ
|
379 |
big river |
*muuai
|
380 |
longhouse |
*baa-(ʔ)o-ha
|
382 |
stone axe |
*hɨgaa-he
|
383 |
machete |
*n()ʦ()ga
|
384 |
deer |
*hiibai
|
385 |
macaw (blue) |
*in()ʔai
|
386 |
ant (conga) |
*tɨɨp()-megai
|
387 |
bitter manioc (plant) |
*peeka
|
388 |
push |
?*ká()()()ʔaaku
|
389 |
find |
*áittɨme
|
390 |
get ill |
*dɨʔkɨ
|
391 |
squeeze manioc dough |
*gáirɨɨʔaiɲɨ
|
392 |
germinate |
*ííno
|
394 |
scream |
*kóóβádííkku, *gái()a
|
395 |
keep |
*toomo-
|
398 |
make |
*móónɨ
|
401 |
cry |
*taa
|
402 |
order, command |
*gáʤúu, *táhɨɨʔba
|
403 |
get wet |
*máa-, *péépai-
|
406 |
manicuera, manioc
|
*paikuumɨɨ
|
407 |
be born |
*pííβo
|
408 |
urinate |
*níppai
|
410 |
fart |
*nobú
|
412 |
ask |
*díʤu
|
413 |
taste |
*nɨtʦu
|
414 |
stay |
*pítá()
|
417 |
want |
*ím()-go-, gáihɨ-, káβa-
|
418 |
grate |
*kaʦu
|
426 |
alone |
*i()-ro
|
427 |
dream |
*tɨga
|
429 |
sweat |
*tugaa
|
431 |
be hungry |
áih()ba
|
434 |
itch |
*áhé
|
435 |
roast |
*garééku, ʦúʔkúʦu-
|
437 |
bring |
*ʦ()βa
|
440 |
pay a visit |
*ba
|
441 |
grassland |
*namettɨhe
|
442 |
yesterday |
*ííhɨ
|
444 |
inside |
*paino
|
445 |
soft, tender |
*paiβoo
|
446 |
happy |
*im()
|
447 |
bitter |
*paapai
|
448 |
fast |
*góóβá
|
450 |
blind |
*ái()ɨme-tɨ
|
451 |
dock, port |
*mɨkku
|
454 |
face |
*ɨme
|
456 |
basket |
*hɨβiiba
|
458 |
foam |
?*hɨ()aʔʦ()
|
461 |
middle |
*pééno
|
462 |
thorn |
*hanoo-tto
|
463 |
tall |
*káamo
|
464 |
palm, Oenocarpus bataua
|
*kúume
|
465 |
medicine |
*táábú
|
467 |
later on |
*buun()
|
468 |
a lot |
*giraa-
|
469 |
behind |
*dóhɨku
|
471 |
full |
*gaʔpo
|
474 |
peanuts |
*máʦakka
|
475 |
yard, court (of maloca) |
*g()-ʔátʦ()
|
476 |
crested oropendola |
*héékkɨ
|
477 |
manioc starch drink |
*kaʔgɨnɨku
|
478 |
arrive |
*gátʦe-
|
479 |
oil |
*dɨɨrɨ-ba-
|
482 |
sifter |
*níttɨ-ba
|
484 |
spicy |
*áiβo
|
489 |
dancing festival |
*hɨɨbaimo
|
491 |
manioc squeezer |
*gádameeʔu
|
492 |
mirror |
*méékɨme
|
494 |
son |
*ʔatʧi
|
495 |
we two |
*mɨʦi, *mɨpe
|
496 |
you two |
*amɨʦi, *amɨpe
|
497 |
they two (m.) |
*dii-t()-ʦi
|
498 |
they two (f.) |
*dii-t()-pe
|
499 |
her |
*i-
|
500 |
eat meat |
*duu
|
501 |
weave |
*nɨɨ
|
502 |
lick |
*neheʔku
|
503 |
healing blow |
*hɨbu
|
504 |
downriver |
*aam()hɨ
|
506 |
wake up |
*aikko
|
507 |
fireplace |
*kɨɨhɨgai
|
508 |
sieve |
*níttɨba
|
509 |
dancing beam |
*ʤari-ga
|
510 |
caimito fruit (Pouteria caimito) |
*mɨʦééʦe
|
511 |
palm, Socratea exorrhiza
|
*háaʤa
|
512 |
leaves that produce black color |
*kaatɨ
|
513 |
peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) |
*moomo
|
514 |
Cecropia sp. |
*taaβi-ʔo
|
515 |
macambo fruit (Theobroma bicolor) |
*haaʔo
|
518 |
Inga edulis |
*tɨɨʦi-ʔo
|
519 |
ceramic saucepan |
*hɨgo-ba
|
520 |
uvilla fruit (Pourouma cecropiaefolia) |
*báaku
|
521 |
rifle |
*áinɨ-hɨ
|
522 |
palm, Astrocaryum chambira
|
*nehe
|
523 |
umarí fruit (Poraqueiba sericea) |
*niimɨ
|
525 |
edible ant |
*m()níiko
|
526 |
avocado (Persea americana) |
*kúúhɨ
|
527 |
edible larvae |
*áppai-ku
|
529 |
grater |
*kaʦu
|
530 |
miriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa) |
*íno-ʔo
|
532 |
pillars (of roundhouse) |
*-ʔakkɨ
|
533 |
Lepidocaryum tenue palm (for thatching roofs) |
*háhe
|
534 |
eat fruit |
*geen()
|
535 |
chew coca |
*dooikkɨ
|
536 |
feces |
*namo
|
539 |
drown |
*mákká-nɨ
|
541 |
pull out |
*gáihúkku
|
542 |
get scared |
*ígi
|
543 |
shame |
*n()kúppé-go-
|
544 |
dance |
*gaʔʦe
|
547 |
hunt |
*taaβa
|
549 |
cook |
*tɨ
|
550 |
catch |
*ɨkkɨ
|
551 |
tell, narrate |
*hɨɨb()go
|
553 |
cut |
*βɨrɨ
|
554 |
shoot |
*ainɨ
|
556 |
get drunk |
*gírííká-βo-
|
557 |
woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) |
*kɨmɨ
|
558 |
sweet |
*naamo
|
560 |
masculine (suffix) |
*-bo
|
562 |
conjure |
*apiiʧu, *ʤɨɨ()a-nɨ
|
|