Kwaza in a Comparative Perspective

In view of the previous sparsity of data, the existing claims with regard to a genealogical classification of the Aikanã, Kanoê, and Kwaza languages of Rondônia, on the Brazilian side of the Guaporé River, are premature and unconvincing. Here, I present new data that contain some striking similarities on lexical, phonological, and grammatical levels. Although these data could point to a distant relationship between the three languages, the evidence is not conclusive and it remains problematical to distinguish possible cognates from areal traits or from chance similarities. Therefore, these three languages must still be considered as unclassified. Swadesh’s list of 100 basic words in the three languages is included in an appendix.