Malibu languages
# Malibu languages

The Malibu languages are a poorly attested group of dead languages once spoken along the Magdalena River in Colombia. Material exists only for two of the numerous languages mentioned in the literature: Malibú and Mocana.

## Classification

The Malibu languages have previously been grouped into a single family with the Chimila language. However, Chimila is now known to be a Chibchan language, and Adelaar & Muysken regard the grouping of Chimila with the Malibu languages as "without any factual basis".

## Family division

Rivet initially listed three Malibu tribes, each with its own language:

* Malibú, spoken near the Magdalena River from Tamalameque to Tenerife
* Mocaná, spoken by the Mokaná people in the region east of Cartagena (Rivet 1947b; Simón 1882-1892, vol. 4, p. 298, only two words.)
* Pacabuey, also known as Sompallón or Laguna Malibu, spoken near the Zapatoza lagoon (Unattested.)

To this list, Loukotka adds six more languages, all of which are unattested (excluding Chimila):

* Papale, spoken on the Fundación River
* Coanoa or Guanoa, spoken on the Cesar River
* Zamirua, spoken on the Ariguaní River
* Cospique, spoken somewhere in the Department of Magdalena
* Mompox, spoken near the city of Santa Cruz de Mompox
* Calamari, spoken along the coast south of Cartagena to Coveñas

## Vocabulary

Rivet gives a brief list of words from Malibú and Mocana, but does not distinguish the two languages. A selection of these is provided below:

* tahana – manzanilla tree
* malibu – chief
* man – small boat
* ytaylaco / yteylaco / yntelas / ytaylas – devil, deity
* entaha / enbutac – cassava
