Language Grouping for Flood Stories

by

Copyright © 2002

[Posted: January 17, 2002]

The myths in Flood Stories From Around The World are arranged, within each continent or region, by language family and group, on the assumption that similarities in language are a good indication of similarities in culture. (That assumption is admittedly questionable, but it is better than any other organizing principle I know of.) This page shows the names of the language families and groups which the flood myths come from, as best I can determine. My main sources for determining the language group for each myth are Encyclopaedia Britannica (15th edition, 1984) and the map supplement with "Global Culture", National Geographic 196(2) (Aug. 1999). Several assignments are uncertain. Corrections from actual linguists or anthropologists are welcome.

• Europe
  • Indo-European
    • Greek
      Greek, Arcadian, Samothrace
    • Romance
      Roman
    • Germanic
      Scandinavian, German
    • Celtic
      Celtic, Welsh
    • Balto-Slavic
      Lithuanian, Transylvanian Gypsy
  • Altaic
    • Turkic
      Turkey

• Near East
  • Sumerian
    Sumerian
  • Afro-Asiatic
    • Semitic
      Egypt, Babylonian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Hebrew, Islamic
  • Indo-European
    • Indo-Iranian
      Persian, Zoroastrian

• Africa
  • Nilo-Saharan
    • Saharan
      Cameroon?
    • Chari-Nile
      Masai, Komililo Nandi, Kwaya (Lake Victoria)
  • Niger-Congo
    • Beunu-Congo
      Southwest Tanzania, Pygmy, Ababua, Kikuyu (Kenya), Bakongo (west Zaire), Bachokwe? (southern Zaire), Lower Congo, Basonge, Bena-Lulua (Congo River, southeast Zaire)
    • Kwa
      Yoruba (southwest Nigeria), Efik-Ibibio (Nigeria), Ekoi (Nigeria)
    • Mande
      Mandingo (Ivory Coast)

• Asia
  • Uralic
    • Ugric
      Vogul
    • Samoyed
      Samoyed (north Siberia)
  • Yeniseian
    Yenisey-Ostyak (north central Siberia), Kamchadale (northeast Siberia)
  • Altaic
    • Turkic
      Altaic (central Asia), Tuvinian (Soyot) (north of Mongolia)
    • Mongolian
      Mongolia, Buryat (eastern Siberia)
    • Tungusic??
      Sagaiye (eastern Siberia)
  • Indo-European
    • Balto-Slavic
      Russian
    • Indo-Iranian
      Hindu, Bhil (central India), Kamar (Raipur District, Central India), Assam
  • Dravidian
    • Southern Dravidian
      Tamil (southern India)
  • Sino-Tibetan
    • Tibeto-Burman
      Lepcha (Sikkim), Tibet, Singpho (Assam), Lushai (Assam), Lisu (northwest Yunnan, China), Lolo (southwestern China), Jino (southern Yunnan, China), Karen? (Burma), Chingpaw (Upper Burma)
    • Sinitic
      China
  • Japanese/Korean
    • Korean
      Korea
  • Austro-Asiatic
    • Munda
      Munda (north-central India), Santal (Bengal), Ho (southwestern Bengal)
    • Mon-Khmer
      Bahnar (Cochin China), Kammu (northern Thailand)
  • Andamanese
    Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal)
  • Kam-Tai
    • Tai
      Zhuang (China), Sui (southern Guizhou, China), Shan (Burma)
  • Austronesian
    • Formosan
      Tsuwo (Formosa interior), Bunun (Formosa interior), Ami (eastern Taiwan)
    • Malayo-Polynesian: Philippines
      Benua-Jakun (Malay Peninsula), Kelantan (Malay Peninsula), Ifugao (Philippines), Kiangan Ifugao, Atá (Philippines), Mandaya (Philippines), Tinguian (Luzon, Philippines)
    • Malayo-Polynesian: Indonesia
      Batak (Sumatra), Nias (an island west of Sumatra), Engano (another island west of Sumatra), Dusun (British North Borneo), Dyak (Borneo), Ot-Danom (Dutch Borneo), Toradja (central Celebes), Alfoor (between Celebes and New Guinea), Rotti (southwest of Timor), Nage (Flores)

• Australia
  • Australian
    • unknown
      Arnhem Land (northern Northern Territory)
    • Gunwinyguan
      Maung (Goulburn Islands, Arnhem Land), Gunwinggu (northern Arnhem Land)
    • Murngin
      Gumaidj? (Arnhem Land)
    • Mangerrian
      Manger (Arnhem Land)
    • Nyulnyulan
      Fitzroy River area? (Western Australia)
    • Pama-Nyungan
      Australian, Mount Elliot (coastal Queensland), Western Australia, Andingari (South Australia), Wiranggu (South Australia), Narrinyeri (South Australia), Victoria, Lake Tyres (Victoria), Kurnai (Gippsland, Victoria), southeast Australian
  • Austronesian
    • Malayo-Polynesian
      Maori (New Zealand)

• Pacific
  • Papuan
    Kabadi (New Guinea), Valman (northern New Guinea), Mamberao River (Irian Jaya), Samo-Kubo (western Papua New Guinea), Papua New Guinea
  • Austronesian
    • Malayo-Polynesian: Micronesia
      Palau Islands (Micronesia), western Carolines
    • Malayo-Polynesian: Melanesia
      New Hebrides, Lifou (one of the Loyalty Islands), Fiji
    • Malayo-Polynesian: Polynesia
      Samoa, Nanumanga (Tuvalu, South Pacific), Mangaia (Cook Islands), Rakaanga (Cook Islands), Raiatea (Leeward Group, French Polynesia), Tahiti, Hawaii

• North America
  • Eskimo-Aleut
    Innuit, Eskimo (Orowignarak, Alaska), Norton Sound Eskimo, Central Eskimo, Tchiglit Eskimo (Arctic Ocean), Herschel Island Eskimo, Netsilik Eskimo, Greenlander
  • North American Indian
    (Wappo, Chitimacha, and Keresan are isolates)
    • NaDene
      Tlingit (southern Alaska coast), Hareskin (Alaska), Tinneh (Alaska and south), Loucheux (Dindjie) (Alaska), Dogrib and Slave (Tinneh tribes), Kaska (northern inland British Columbia), Thompson Indians (British Columbia), Sarcee (Alberta), Tsetsaut
    • undetermined
      Haida (Queen Charlotte Is., British Columbia), Tsimshian (British Columbia)
    • Wakashan
      Kwakiutl (British Columbia)
    • Salishan
      Kootenay (southeast British Columbia), Squamish (British Columbia), Bella Coola (British Columbia), Lillooet (Green River, British Columbia), Makah (Cape Flattery, Washington), Klallam (northwest Washington), Skokomish (Washington), Skagit (Washington), Quillayute (Washington), Nisqually (Washington), Twana (Puget Sound, Washington), Kathlamet
    • unknown
      Cascade Mountains
    • Penutian
      Spokana/Nez Perce/Cayuse (eastern Washington), Yakima (Washington), Warm Springs (Oregon), Joshua (southern Oregon), Smith River (northern California coast), Wintu (north central California), Maidu (central California), Northern Miwok (central California), Tuleyome Miwok (near Clear Lake, California), Olamentko Miwok (Bodega Bay, California), Ohlone (San Francisco to Monterey, California)
    • Athapaskan
      Kato (Mendocino County, California)
    • Hokan
      Shasta (northern California interior), Pomo (north central California), Salinan (California), Yuma (western Arizona, southern California), Havasupai (lower Colorado River)
    • Wappo
      Ashochimi (California)
    • Algonquian
      Yurok (north California coast), Blackfoot (Alberta and Montana), Cree (Canada), Timagami Ojibway (Canada), Chippewa (Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin), Ottawa, Menomini (Wisconsin-Michigan border), Cheyenne (Minnesota), Yellowstone, Montagnais (northern Gulf of St. Lawrence), Micmac (eastern Maritime Canada), Algonquin (upper Ottowa River), Lenape (Delaware) (Delaware to New York)
    • Iroquoian
      Cherokee (Great Lakes area; eastern Tennessee)
    • Siouan
      Mandan (North Dakota), Lakota
    • Muscogean
      Choctaw (Mississippi), Natchez (Lower Mississippi)
    • Chitimacha
      Chitimacha (Southern Louisiana)
    • Caddoan
      Caddo (Oklahoma, Arkansas), Pawnee (Nebraska)
    • NaDene (southern)
      Navajo (Four Corners area), Jicarilla Apache (northeastern New Mexico)
    • Keresan
      Sia (northeast Arizona)
    • Uto-Aztecan
      Acagchemem (near San Juan Capistrano, California), Luiseño (Southern California), Pima (southwest Arizona), Papago (Arizona), Hopi (northeast Arizona), Zuni? (New Mexico)

• Central America
  • Tarascan
    Tarascan (northern Michoacan, Mexico), Michoacan (Mexico)
  • American Indian
    • Uto-Aztecan
      Yaqui (Sonoran, Northern Mexico), Tarahumara (Northern Mexico), Huichol (western Mexico), Cora (east of the Huichols), Tepecano (southeast of the Huichols), Tepehua (eastern Mexico), Toltec (Mexico), Nahua (central Mexico), Tlaxcalan (central Mexico)
    • Oto-Manquean
      Tlapanec (south central Mexico), Mixtec (northern Oaxaca, Mexico), Zapotec (Oaxaca, southern Mexico), Trique (Oaxaca, southern Mexico)
    • Totonacan
      Totonac (eastern Mexico)
    • Mayan
      Chol (southern Mexico), Tzeltal (Chiapas, southern Mexico), Quiché (Guatemala), Maya (southern Mexico and Guatemala)
    • Mixe-Zoquean
      Popoluca (Veracruz, Mexico)
    • Macro-Chibchan
      Nicaragua?, Panama
    • Kariban
      Carib (Antilles)

• South America
  • South American Indian
    • Kariban
      Acawai (Orinoco), Arekuna (Guyana), Makiritare (Venezuela), Macusi (British Guyana)
    • Macro-Chibchan
      Muysca (Colombia), Yaruro (southern Venezuela)
    • Yanomami
      Yanomamö (southern Venezuela)
    • Arawakan
      Tamanaque (Orinoco), Arawak (Guyana), Pamary, Abedery, and Kataushy (Purus R., Brazil), Ipurina (Upper Amazon)
    • Jebero-Jivaroan
      Jivaro (eastern Ecuador), Shuar (Andes)
    • Murato
      Murato (eastern Ecuador)
    • Puruha-Canari
      Cañari (Quito, Ecuador)
    • Chiquito
      Guanca and Chiquito (Peru)
    • Quechumaran
      Ancasmarca (near Cuzco, Peru), Canelos Quechua, Quechua, Inca (Peru), Colla (high Andes)
    • Tupian
      Chiriguano (southeast Bolivia)
    • Mataco-Macca
      Chorote (Eastern Paraguay)
    • Macro-Ge
      Eastern Brazil (Rio de Janiero region), Eastern Brazil (Cape Frio region), Caraya (Araguaia River, central Brazil), Coroado (south Brazil)
    • Araucanian
      Araucania (coastal Chile)
    • Guaycuru-Charruan
      Toba (northern Argentina)
    • Pano-Takanan
      Selk'nam (southern tip of Argentina)
    • Yamana
      Yamana (Tierra del Fuego)

Back to Flood Stories From Around The World