Paipai language

Paipai
Paipai
Akwa'ala
Region	Mexico
Ethnicity	Paipai people
Native speakers	230 (2020 census)
Language family	Yuman Core Yuman Pai ? Paipai; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	ppi
Glottolog	paip1241
ELP	Paipai
	Paipai is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Paipai is the native language of the Paipai, spoken in the Baja California municipality of Ensenada (settlements of Arroyo de León (Ejido Kiliwas), Camalu, Cañón de la Parra, Comunidad Indígena de Santa Catarina, Ejido 18 de Marzo (El Álamo), El Aguajito (El Mat Chip), El Alamar, El Pinacate [Chknan], El Ranchito [Wikwalpuk], El Sauzal, Ensenada, Ex Hacienda Sinaloa, Héroes de la Independencia (Llano Colorado), Lázaro Cárdenas (Valle de Trinidad), La Huerta, La Vinata [Wipuk], Leyes de Reforma (El Rodeo), Misión Santo Domingo, Ojo de Agua Colorada, Poblado Héroes de Chapultepec, Poblado Puerta Trampa, Pórticos del Mar, Ranchito Xonuko, Rancho Agua de Vida, Rancho el Sauco, Rancho Escondido, Rancho las Canoas, Rancho Mariscal, Rancho San Belem, Rancho Santa Martha, Real del Castillo Nuevo (Ojos Negros), Rincón de Santa Catarina, San Isidoro, Sauce Largo [Yokakgul], Sauce Solo [Yokazis], Úrsulo Galván, Valle de la Trinidad, and Yokakiul).^[2] It is part of the Yuman language family. There are quite a few speakers left, but most are over age 50. Most Paipai now live in Kumeyaay villages.

It is believed that Paipai was separated from the Northern Pai languages many years ago. In oral tradition of most Yuman tribes, the people descended from Avikwame (also known as Newberry Mt.) and went were Kumat directed them. So at one time the Paipai might have been with the other tribes.

The Paipai language was documented by Judith Joël and Mauricio J. Mixco, who have published texts and studies of syntax.

Video of Armandina González speaking Paipai

Paipai belongs to the Yuman language family. Within the Yuman family, Paipai belongs to the Pai branch, which also includes the Upland Yuman language, dialects of which are spoken by the Yavapai, Walapai, and Havasupai of western Arizona. The relationship between Paipai and Upland Yuman is very close; some observers have suggested that Paipai and Yavapai are mutually intelligible (i.e., that the Paipai and Upland Yumans spoke dialects of a single language), while other observers have claimed that they are not.

The controversial technique of glottochronology suggests that the Pai branch of Yuman may have separated from the other two branches of Core Yuman (River Yuman and Delta–California Yuman) about 1,000-1,700 years ago. Paipai may have separated from Upland Yuman 1,000 years ago or less.

Phonology

Consonants

		Bilabial	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Velar			Uvular		Glottal
		Bilabial	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	nor.	lab.	pal.	nor.	lab.	Glottal
Plosive		p	t	ʈ	tʃ	k	kʷ	kʲ	q	qʷ	ʔ
Fricative	voiceless		s	ʂ	ʃ	x	xʷ				h
Fricative	voiced	β		ʐ
Nasal		m	n		ɲ
Rhotic			ɾ
Lateral	fricative		ɬ
Lateral	approx.		l		ʎ
Semivowel		w			j

/x/ can be heard as uvular [χ] when preceding consonants, or in syllable initial position.
/ʐ/ can be heard as an alveolar trill [r] in free variation among speakers.

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i iː		u uː
Mid	e eː		o oː
Open		a aː

/a/ can be heard as [ə] in syllable initial position.^[3]

References

^ Lenguas indígenas y hablantes de 3 años y más, 2020 INEGI. Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020.
^ "Catálogo de las Lenguas Indígenas Nacionales".
^ Ibáñez Bravo, María Elena (2015). Descripción fonológica de la lengua Paʔipá:y. México: ENAH.

[inegi2020-1] Lenguas indígenas y hablantes de 3 años y más, 2020 INEGI. Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020.

[2] "Catálogo de las Lenguas Indígenas Nacionales".

[3] Ibáñez Bravo, María Elena (2015). Descripción fonológica de la lengua Paʔipá:y. México: ENAH.

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