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
- 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
- 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)
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From Around The World