Huarpean languages

Huarpean
Warpean
Geographic
distribution
Cuyo Province, Argentina
EthnicityHuarpe people
Extinctafter 1630s
Linguistic classificationMacro-Warpean ?
Macro-Jibaro ?
  • Huarpean
Subdivisions
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
Glottologhuar1251
Map of the Huarpean languages

Huarpe (Warpe) was a small language family of central Argentina (historic Cuyo Province) that consisted of at least two closely related languages. They are traditionally considered dialects, and include Allentiac (Alyentiyak, Huarpe) and Millcayac (Milykayak). A third, Puntano of San Luis, was not documented before the languages became extinct.

Kaufman (1994) tentatively linked Huarpe to the Mura-Matanawi languages in a family he called Macro-Warpean. However, he noted that "no systematic study" had been made, so that it is best to consider them independent families. Swadesh and Suárez both connected Huarpe to Macro-Jibaro, a possibility that has yet to be investigated.