Aranama language facts for kids

The Aranama language, also known as Tamique, was a language once spoken in Texas, USA. Sadly, it is now an extinct language, meaning no one speaks it anymore. It was used by the Aranama and Tamique groups.

These people lived near a Spanish mission called Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga. We know very little about the Aranama language. In fact, only two words are known! These words were recorded from someone who was not a native speaker. The known phrase is himiána tsáyi, which means 'give me water!'. You might also see the language called by other names, like Taranames, Jaranames, Xaranames, Charinames, Chaimamé, Hanáma, or Hanáme.

What We Know About Aranama

We have very little information about the Aranama language. It is considered an unclassified language. This means that experts have not been able to connect it to any other known language family. It's like a puzzle piece that doesn't fit with any other pieces we have.

The Few Known Words

In 1884, a researcher named Albert Samuel Gatschet learned a few words of Aranama. He got this information from an old man named "Old Simon." Old Simon was a member of the Tonkawa people. He also helped Gatschet learn about the Karankawa language.

Old Simon told Gatschet that the words he knew were from a language called "Hanáma" or "Háname." These are the only words we have from the Aranama language:

• himiyána means 'water'
• Himiána tsýi! means 'Give me water!'

These two words are all that remain of the Aranama language today. They give us a tiny glimpse into a language that has now disappeared.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma aranama-tamique para niños